Glad to be back

Jan Vertonghen was delighted to return to action with a win against AEL Limassol – and he's looking to maintain our form against QPR in the Premier League on Sunday.

The defender was last seen in action for Belgium in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against Argentina and after an extended break was back in a Spurs shirt for our Europa League play-off, first leg in the Cyprus heat on Thursday night.

Goals from Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane - both assisted by Erik Lamela - turned around an early deficit against AEL and put us in the driving seat for the return at the Lane on Thursday.

Jan completed the 90 minutes and was joined by fellow World Cup returnees Paulinho, who started and Belgian team-mates Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele, who came off the bench in the second half.

“It was a hard game to come back into against good opponents,” reflected Jan.

“I’m glad we won. It was difficult circumstances for me, my first game back, my first 90 minutes in two months and it was hard, but to win away in Europe is always a good result and I must admit I was happy to get that win.

“We started well, then conceded but we kept playing football. We had to score here, 1-1 would have been a decent result, not perfect, but we won 2-1 and that sets us up for the second leg.”

Jan quickly looked ahead to Sunday’s first home game of the season in the Premier League against QPR, a second London derby in two outings so far after our opening day win at West Ham.

QPR appeared unlucky to lose against Hull - they had 13 efforts at goal without reward - and Jan is aware of their quality.

“They are a very dangerous team with lots of quality and very good strikers,” said Jan.

“It surprised me a little that they lost at home but they are a strong team and it will be a test. I played against them twice before (2012-13) and they were both difficult games and it will be hard again.”