Michael Dawson says the fact that Tottenham have nothing left to play for will not stop them from putting in 100% for the rest of the season.Spurs secured European football next term after winning the Carling Cup but are out of every other competition and are virtually safe from relegation.

Dawson still wants to push on for a top-half finish in the league and could get his chance against Manchester City on Sunday as captain Ledley King has a calf strain.

He has dismissed suggestions Spurs will now be 'on the beach'.

"Every game we play, we take it as seriously as the last one," said the 24-year-old defender. "And it's up to us to get up that league.

"Before the Carling Cup, if you ask the players they were looking forward to the final. That's gone now."

Dawson wants to make up for missing the triumph at Wembley last month by playing a part in the rest of the campaign.

He had a hamstring injury when Spurs defeated Chelsea to end their nine-year trophy drought, then made his comeback last weekend against West Ham.

He was on the bench against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday when Spurs crashed out of the UEFA Cup on penalties but is hoping to get back in the side.

"Of course we now want to climb the table," he added. "We've got great players and we're never going to be satisfied with winning one cup.

"It was a great achievement to win the trophy. Full credit goes to the players at Wembley, but we realise we have to push on."

Assistant boss Gus Poyet admits the players will need lifting after levelling their tie against PSV but cruelly being denied on spot-kicks.

He was happy with the performance but added: "The problem is we are a little bit down because we were not expecting to exit Europe at this stage.

"We have to recover and start thinking about the next games we have. There is not much you can say to them, just to keep going."

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