With Tottenham still bottom of the Premier League despite taking seven points from their last three matches, Harry Redknapp and his players could be forgiven for thinking they could do without the UEFA Cup.

The tournament's bloated structure means that Spurs will have to play at least three more matches in the competition, and if they finish in the top three of their second-round group, they will play a minimum of two further European fixtures.

If Spurs were to reach the final, it would add nine fixtures to an already congested schedule and would involve four more trips abroad.

Tonight's home game against Dinamo Zagreb is Tottenham's first match in a spell of four games in ten days, which also features a visit to Manchester City on Sunday and a home Carling Cup tie against Liverpool next Wednesday, as well as a derby clash at Fulham on 15 November.

Redknapp is making all the right noises about treating the UEFA Cup seriously but his choices tonight will reveal much about his priorities.

Whereas former coach Juande Ramos preferred to use Ledley King, whose troublesome knee means he can play only once a week, in cup competitions, Redknapp has made it clear that he wants his captain to lead Tottenham to top-flight survival.

With Spurs keen to defend the Carling Cup after their victory over Chelsea at Wembley earlier in February, perhaps the smart move would be to use the UEFA Cup to give the fringe players and youth prospects regular action.

Redknapp has revealed that he plans to include the 16-year-old John Bostock, a controversial summer signing from Crystal Palace who could eventually cost Spurs £1.25million, and admitted he disliked the format of the tournament.

Redknapp said: "There are a lot of games. I would rather see a knock-out system where you play a team home and away. I think that is exciting.

"In this system, you have five teams, with the top three to go through. My personal view would be to have a draw and a knock-out and get on with it.

"If you are playing Thursday and Sunday regularly, it certainly can take a toll on what you are doing.

"I respect the fact that Spurs have been a good European team over the years but the League is also very important.

"We are in a position where we need to keep on picking up League points; that is the key. We have enough talent here to get us up that table."

Central to Redknapp's strategy to guiding his team up the Premier League table is Luka Modric, who has been revitalised since Redknapp replaced Ramos almost two weeks ago.

Modric will have the chance to show his former team-mates at Dinamo that he is finally adapting to life in England, six months after he agreed a £16.5m move from the Croatian champions.

After struggling initially under Ramos, Modric has revelled in a role just behind a central striker under Redknapp, to such a degree that the 23-year-old is already contemplating following in the footsteps of White Hart Lane favourites like Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne.

Asked if he aspired to become the idol of the Spurs fans as they had been, Modric said: "Yes, certainly. It is a big inspiration for me and I will try to play my best game, so that in a year or in a couple of months, the fans can love me like the other players at the club.

"Even after the difficult start I had, I never believed that I would fail to be successful in England. I was still really confident.

"Where I am playing now is my best position and I am very happy to play there. The praise the manager has given me so far is a big compliment."

If Redknapp decides that Spurs simply cannot afford the luxury of competing for glory on three fronts, Modric may discover that his involvement in the club's UEFA Cup campaign is kept to a minimum.

But if the Croatia star can play an instrumental role in leading Spurs away from danger, nobody will be complaining at White Hart Lane.