Boost for Brownie

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

The appointment of Martin Jol as Head Coach has certainly provided a boost to Michael Brown and the midfielder is grateful for the faith being shown in him.

The tigerish middleman was an occasional starter in the early phase of the season, having to mostly fill in on the right when he got his chances to play. He is now getting the opportunity to play much more to his strengths, attacking and snapping into tackles in higher areas when the second ball is there to be won.

He admits his recent role is much more to his liking.

"It is and Martin showed his faith in me by putting me straight back into midfield, which is where I want to be," reflected Michael, who is approaching one year at the club. "It's been great for me personally.

"He is trying to play a hint of a diamond formation, he's trying to let me go forward with Michael mostly sitting. People will look at it as a diamond, but it's not and with Villa playing three in the middle on Monday and really narrow, we had to play as a flat four.

"Hopefully we can win the ball back in higher areas which has worked for us on some occasions. For me, I would like to get forward and get a goal rather than just defend. Hopefully I will get one soon.

"It has been good for me, before I've been filling in on the right and doing a job which is not ideal for me. If I get a run now hopefully I can improve."

Michael added that featuring regularly and playing in his favoured position greatly improves the mindset and happiness of a player. Something he is now noticing himself.

"Of course it does, if there is a footballer who is happy when they are not playing then I think there is something wrong. Everybody should be happy when they are playing, although wanting to do better and improve each time they play."

With Middlesbrough at home looming on Sunday, Michael knows it will be a tough day at the office against the fourth placed side in the Barclays Premiership, but insists we should concentrate on our own strengths.

"They are doing really well and we are going to have to be on our toes. They are a strong, hard working team with a lot of quality up front. We are going to have to be ready for them.

"They do have a great strikeforce, but we think we have got one too and if they click we can win the game.

"We've had a bad run after a decent start, but there has been a lot of change at the club with lots of new players. I'm sure we will pull through starting on Sunday.

"Confidence is there and the camp is happy. Obviously we don't like losing games, but we're developing a good team spirit that will serve us well in the future."