Stick by me, AVB, says Tottenham's Danny Rose, after returning from injury misery

Danny Rose is ready to show Andre Villas-Boas that Tottenham do not need to sign a left-back next month after making his long-awaited comeback from injury.

Rose returned last night after three months out with a foot problem and played 45 minutes as Spurs eased to victory in their final Europa League group match.

The 23 year old, who started this season as the first-choice left-back at White Hart Lane, has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines and saw Tottenham linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Fabio Coentrao during his lengthy lay-off. Coentrao is reportedly high on Villas-Boas’s wish list but Rose is confident he remains a big part of his manager’s plans.

He is now targeting an extended run in the team to make the left-back position his own and end any talk of new arrivals when the transfer window reopens. “That is my job now,” said Rose.

“I thought the club were going to do that [sign a left-back] in August and I went to see the manager and he told me it was not true and if the club were going to do that he would speak to me first. So I would be the first one to find out in January.

“I have got a lot of respect for the manager and he has got a lot of respect for me.

“He treats me as one of the big players here and it is the first time I have had that at this club. There are a lot of games coming up and I just hope I can stay fit now.”

Rose had been absent since damaging his foot against Tromso in September, an injury which he had believed would keep him out of action for only 10 days. The problem did not heal as quickly as Spurs would have hoped and he was sent to Portugal to see a specialist.

Jan Vertonghen has shifted to left-back in Rose’s absence and, with the Belgium defender out injured, Kyle Naughton started against Sunderland last weekend. Rose came through last night unscathed but feels Sunday’s game against Liverpool may come too soon to make his Premier League return. He added: “Kyle did very well against Sunderland and I am not expecting to be put straight back into the team.”

Roberto Soldado (left) hit a hat-trick against Anzhi in a comfortable win for Spurs, who had already progressed to the knock-out stages having won their group. The Spain striker had not scored since the win at Aston Villa in October. Lewis Holtby was also on the scoresheet.