Spurs must push for cups and not just survival, says hero O' Hara

O'Hara's close-range header earned Spurs a 1-0 win against NEC Nijmegen in Holland and put Harry Redknapp's team on the brink of qualification for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Since taking over a month ago, Redknapp has made it clear that avoiding relegation is his priority but O'Hara said: "We have these midweek games when some of the other teams don't but that is part of being at a big club.

"We have to try in all the competitions. If we are challenging on many fronts, it can only be good for us."

O'Hara, 22, broke into the first team last season under Juande Ramos, and quickly became a favourite of the Spanish coach.

But he has found life more difficult under Redknapp, who used last night's game to give debuts to 18-year-old Jon Obika and 17-year-old Ryan Mason as late substitutes.

Obika and Mason were two of five youth-team players to make the trip to Nijmegen and O'Hara, who also came through the ranks at White Hart Lane, believes he can be an example for the youngsters to follow. He is the first home-grown player since Ledley King to become a regular member of the squad and has set his sights on succeeding King as Tottenham captain one day.

He said: "If I get a lot more games under my belt, hopefully it [the captaincy] will be something I get the opportunity to do. It would be a dream for me.

"It is good for players to come through the system at Spurs. It was great to see a couple of players make their debuts, because it shows our youth system is working.

"I have worked hard to get here and now I can be an example for the youth-team players. The first-team players made them very welcome and it was fantastic for them to get on the pitch."

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, meanwhile, must wish Spurs played their home games in Holland.

After making mistake after mistake in his first 20 games for the club, the Brazilian delivered a faultless display and appears finally on the road to recovery.

Gomes earned his £7.8million move to White Hart Lane last summer on the strength of four excellent seasons for PSV Eindhoven and his performance against NEC showed he still feels most at home against Dutch clubs.

Gomes, 27, appeared far more relaxed and comfortable, he commanded his area, was decisive in his kicking and made one excellent save to deny Moestafa El-Kabir shortly after O'Hara's 14th-minute goal.

Redknapp said: "He looked very assured and two clean sheets in a row [after Sunday's 1-0 win over Blackburn] won't do him any harm.

"He took every cross. He's been training well and I think his confidence is coming back. Hopefully he's out of the bad spell and we'll see what he's really made of. Like everything in life, it's about confidence."

Perry Suckling has been helping Gomes and Redknapp has also appointed former Spurs keeper Tony Parks. Both have made an impact, according to Redknapp. "They've got him working in a more English style," he said. "Working him, bossing him and talking to him."