Anderton the white knight rides out again

There must be something about Darren Anderton and white shirts. He has worn one for 11 seasons now at Tottenham and pulled on the white of England 30 times, one for each year of his age. And he has no intention of changing colour now, either.

There was a chance, seven years ago, to have signed for Manchester United and worn red. After much thought, Anderton decided to stay put in London and, he insists, "I don't regret it in any way". But to swap the white of Spurs for the red of Arsenal, as Sol Campbell did last season? Never. Perhaps it was the proximity of this afternoon's north London derby, but Anderton became quite animated at such a prospect.

"I definitely wouldn't play for Arsenal, that's for sure," he said. "I am Tottenham through and through, and most of the Spurs players feel that way, too." So, then, there will be no further incentive needed this afternoon for Tottenham to attempt to overturn the 3-0 defeat suffered at Highbury four weeks ago.

"We didn't play too well that day," he recalled. "Even though Simon Davies was sent off they were already a goal up. It was a very disappointing result, but they are a great team. We usually do a lot better against them at White Hart Lane, though."

They certainly do. Of the last 10 derbies on Tottenham's home turf, four have been won, four drawn and only two lost. "Arsenal have done well since Arsène Wenger came in, and of course it is frustrating for us seeing that happen. We want to be challenging and we know it will take a couple of years but this is the strongest squad we have had in my time, stronger even than the one under Terry Venables. This is a much bigger squad, so when there are injuries you can deal with it.

"We know Sunday's game is as important to the fans as it is to the players. It is the big game of the season for us and if we can beat them it will make our fans' season. It is a great game to be involved in, the atmosphere is different to any other."

Campbell, who joined the Tottenham staff as an apprentice the same season that Anderton arrived, is certain to suffer further abuse from the home crowd for perceived treachery in switching allegiance. "I think Sol thrives on that," said Darren. "It puts him on his toes. I don't want to see bottles thrown, or anything like that. It's clear the fans still feel very strongly but the players here have no hard feelings about it. I have known Sol since he was an apprentice. He used to clean my boots, not very well."

If Anderton joins in the kick-off today, it will be only his fifth start of the season. No surprise there, since he is famously nicknamed "Sicknote" because of lengthy injury absences, and what has sidelined him this time is knee damage. But last season he played in 35 Premiership matches, more than anyone else at the club, and to date has amassed 265 games and 33 goals, injuries notwithstanding.

Including temporary managers, Anderton has averaged a boss a season in his 11 years at White Hart Lane. His favourites have been Gerry Francis, Venables and Hoddle. "Glenn has bought well, the youngsters coming through have done well and although we are seventh we still haven't played as well as we can this season. So, if we improve our performances, who knows where we can go? Look at Arsenal, under Wenger they have had a bit of continuity. Hopefully we can get continuity here now."

Acknowledging that there was close-season speculation about his future, Anderton claims: "I don't see why I shouldn't finish my career here. I have always enjoyed my time here, always been very happy. And that's how I feel at the moment."

It was also how he felt in 1995 when Manchester United came calling. "There was an option in my contract which allowed me to leave, so it was down to me. But I had never had a problem at Tottenham, never have since. Gerry Francis was in charge at the time and made it clear he wanted me to stay and build the team around me."

Anderton says he never met Sir Alex Ferguson to discuss the move. "Mr Sugar wouldn't let me out of his house," he smiled. "It could have happened, since the decision was mine, and there is no doubt I would have won more if I had gone. But I have never had any regrets."

What he does regret is the spate of injuries which have dogged his career. One, a cartilage tear, affected his form and ended his hopes of going to the World Cup this year. He sees no reason why he cannot get back into the England squad soon and admits his other ambition is to do something that, astonishingly, he has not yet managed, to play in European competition.

Tottenham qualified for Europe by winning the Worthington Cup in 1999. But at the start of the following season Darren Anderton was injured yet again.