Manchester City are in Spurs' sights, says Benoit Assou-Ekotto

If Spurs win their game in hand against Everton at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, they will go joint second with United on 45 points - just three adrift of Manchester City, who Spurs face at the Etihad Stadium on January 22. Before that match, Spurs take on Wolves at home, while United, who lost last night at Newcastle, host Bolton and City travel to Wigan.

As daunting as the task will be for Harry Redknapp's team, City's recent stumbles at West Brom and Sunderland will give them hope - and Assou-Ekotto is confident they can avenge City's 5-1 victory in north London in August.

He said: "Everyone had been saying that Manchester City were invincible but then they drew at West Brom which showed that no one is guaranteed a win in this division.

"Our minimum target is to finish in the top four. After that, anything is possible. No one can predict what will happen over the next five months."

City will lose their midfield driving force Yaya Toure later this month as he will be with the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations.

In contrast, with Cameroon not qualifying, Assou-Ekotto will remain with Spurs, as will Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Both players have had a key role in a side, who, according to Assou-Ekotto, are now one of the strongest in the Premier League.

"We are no longer looking behind us at other teams' results," said the defender. "Instead, we are the ones getting the results and they are looking at us, hoping we slip up.

"You can see how much we have improved, even over the last 12 months. Just look at the table - we are in third place and we deserve to be there."

Spurs' patchy form against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League - they averaged only 1.6 points per match in those fixtures last season -cost them a place in the Champions League this term. During the current campaign, though, Redknapp's men have been almost flawless against those clubs, averaging 2.82 points per game.

Summer signings Adebayor, Brad Friedel and Scott Parker have all had a major part in the team's improvement, as Assou-Ekotto acknowledged. He added: "The quality of players we have in every position makes this easily the best squad I have played in and we have that winning mentality now, too. Almost every player is an international and we have been lifted by the arrival of Scott and Ade.

"Scott is a natural leader. 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, while Ade has played for some of the world's best clubs and has great experience."