O'Hara's bidding to be a regular guy

O'Hara, who made his debut against Portsmouth on 15 December last year, is proof that the Spurs Academy can produce players capable of establishing themselves in the senior squad, and is an example for youth prospects like John Bostock, Dean Parrett and Ryan Mason to follow.

But the 22-year-old was on the books at Arsenal from the age of 12 until 17, before deciding to join Spurs, the club he supported as a boy. O'Hara admits that his education at the Gunners' London Colney training ground has accelerated his progress with their great north London rivals.

The England Under-21 international said: "I learned a lot at Arsenal. They are a passing team, who try to keep the ball, so that is how I was brought up to play.

"Being there was a big part of my development and when I came to Tottenham, I tried to put everything I had learned at Arsenal into my game here.

"I played alongside [current Spurs team-mate] David Bentley in their youth system and trained with their first team a few times.

"There were so many top-class players there, so it was a great place to improve."

Spurs manager Redknapp has made no secret of the fact that he has little time for the UEFA Cup, with Premier League survival and retaining the Carling Cup his principal objectives for the season. But for O'Hara, the competition represents for him an opportunity to ensure he does not drift out of the first-team picture at White Hart Lane.

While O'Hara has made seven appearances under Redknapp, he has started only two of the 61-year-old's nine Premier League matches in charge, and, if everyone is fit, there is no place for O'Hara in Redknapp's preferred starting XI.

With six points from three matches, Tottenham have virtually secured qualification for the knockout stages. A draw will ensure their progress to the last 32, but if NEC Nijmegen fail to beat Udinese in the other match in Group D, Spurs will go through even if Spartak win.

O'Hara, however, is just grateful for the chance to impress and admitted that continually being named among the substitutes is trying his patience.

And while certain players have chosen to bid good riddance to former boss Juande Ramos since his sacking almost two months ago, O'Hara holds the Spaniard responsible for rescuing his White Hart Lane career.

O'Hara had been out of favour under previous manager Martin Jol and had spent loan spells with Chesterfield and Millwall, before Ramos's arrival gave him the chance he had craved.

He continued: "If it weren't for the UEFA Cup and the Carling Cup, there would probably be limited opportunities for a lot of players, so it is another way for me to prove I can play for a big club.

"For any player, the most frustrating part of the game is sitting on the bench but I have had a chat with Harry Redknapp, and he has told me I am part of his plans. Hopefully, I can keep on impressing him when I come on as a sub.

"I don't see why I can't have a big career at Spurs, even though it is a bit harder to come through the ranks at a big club than it was in the past. Spurs are always interested in big-name players, so sometimes you wonder if you will get the opportunity. But I look at Ledley King, who came through the system here, and he is the most talented player at the club. If he is fit, nobody can touch him.

"Juande Ramos was a good manager for me and he is someone I have the utmost respect for.

"He gave me the chance to play in the Premier League and if it weren't for him, I might not be at the club today."

Redknapp will be pleased to see the back of the UEFA Cup, and has only one fit striker, Fraizer Campbell, to chose from tonight. The Spurs boss has also questioned Ramos's decision to exclude certain players from the list that has now left him so stretched.

Paul Stalteri, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Hossam Ghaly, Adel Taarabt and Ricardo Rocha are all ineligible as the Spaniard axed them from the squad in the summer and Redknapp conceded: "The balance is not great.

"The players who were not given squad numbers at the start of the season would have done a great job for us against Spartak but they are not on the roster.

"There are so many games, it is crazy. I believe the UEFA Cup will contain more knockout matches next year, which is a better format for the competition."