Tottenham’s ‘Natural Leader’ Earns Ringing Endorsement From Teammate

Tottenham Hotspur left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has lavished praise on Scott Parker by claiming the midfielder is the club's chief motivator.

Last season's Football Writers' Player of the Year has carried his superb form into this season and the 31-year-old has rapidly emerged as one of Tottenham's most dependable and talismanic figures.

The Tottenham Hotspur star is currently sidelined with injury, but his White Hart Lane colleague Assou-Ekotto, suggests Parker's £5.5 million arrival in the summer gave the whole club a lift.

The left-back suggests the leadership qualities displayed by Parker during his fledgling Tottenham career have been a crucial part of the club's sustained challenge on the Premier League.

"Scott is a natural leader." The Tottenham defender explained to the London Evening Standard. "The first day he was with us, you could tell he was a very positive guy.

"He motivates the whole team and has been a great addition."

Assou-Ekotto's sentiments would certainly echo these comments made by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp's son Jamie. In his capacity as a Sky Sports pundit, the former Spurs midfielder revealed Parker was very much on the on-pitch embodiment of the manager.

Redknapp intimated the industrious Tottenham star set the tone both on the training pitch and in games.

"Scott Parker and he has been a revelation." The former Tottenham midfielder told the Daily Mail in December. "Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch. He manages in the dressing room, sets the example and leads on the training pitch. And you can tell Modric likes playing with him, they trust each other."

The palpable belief surrounding Tottenham at the moment could be heightened this month amid reports Harry Redknapp is eyeing an audacious double raid for Christopher Samba and Junior Hoilett.

Tottenham are willing to pay their Premier League counterparts in excess of £15 million in order to land the duo, as Harry Redknapp looks to consolidate their position near the top of the table.