Manchester City vs Tottenham: Younes Kaboul says Spurs 'can't wait' to show what they are capable of

Tottenham lost 6-0 and 5-1 to City last season

Younes Kaboul (Getty Images)

Younes Kaboul has told Tottenham to prove their worth against Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Spurs lost 6-0 and 5-1 to City last season amid a number of heavy defeats to title-chasing teams and their rivals for a Champions League spot.

Mauricio Pochettino's side are unbeaten away from home this season, including a 1-1 draw at Arsenal, and hope to surprise City at the Etihad Stadium.

"Last season's games are in the past and in football you always have to focus on the present and look to the future," the France defender said on tottenhamhotspur.com.

"We can't wait for this match, we want to go there and play our game.

"In these big games we need to do something to show everyone what we are capable of."

The heavy losses to City came under Pochettino's predecessors Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood, and the Argentinian cared little when reminded of the 11-1 aggregate scoreline of last term.

The Tottenham boss will give goalkeeper Hugo Lloris every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the match after being forced out of France duty with a thigh injury.

Michel Vorm is on standby to come into the side.

Belgium midfielder Nacer Chadli (hip) will be given a chance to prove his fitness, too, while striker Emmanuel Adebayor and Nabil Bentaleb were to be assessed on their returns from international duty on Friday.

Pochettino hopes to blend the established first-team stars and new recruits with academy talent in future, like he successfully managed to do at previous club Southampton.

"We need to get the balance - you buy players and then you provide players from the academy who deserve to arrive in the first team," Pochettino added.

"Always in football it's the balance question. It's important.

"Tottenham have spent a lot of money on keeping the academy and creating a magnificent training ground, and now we need to get the benefits from that."

PA