Tottenham’s Lewis Holtby aims to win first-team place next season

Lewis Holtby is confident he can become a first-team regular at Tottenham Hotspur next season after a quiet start to his career at White Hart Lane.

Andre Villas-Boas has used the Germany international sparingly since the midfielder arrived in a £1.5m deal from Schalke in the January transfer window.

Holtby has started just two Premier League games, with the 22-year-old struggling to oust first-choice midfielders Mousa Dembele and Scott Parker.

But the German is hoping a successful Under-21 European championship will give him the necessary momentum to break into Villas-Boas’ first-team next season.

“In the summer, with my first pre-season and hopefully the tailwind of a successful Under-21 European Championship, I want to win a place on the [Spurs] team,” he told German magazine Kicker.

“I am under contract until 2018. I have trust in myself and will establish myself there. And if I show what I am capable of in the top level, I have good chances for the Germany senior team.”

Holtby impressed for Schalke this season with respectable return of four goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances before moving to Spurs.

The Erkelenz-born star admits there are notable differences in terms of culture and style of play in the Premier League.

“The game is faster [in England], it constantly goes up and down. There is also more respect between coaches and players, but also for the referee,” he added.

“It’s easier to work on those little things in training, as there are no media or fans at the training ground.

“This enables you to work totally professional.”