Reading striker Dave Kitson is convinced he has never been in better shape to take on his boyhood heroes Tottenham.The 27-year-old comes from a family of Spurs supporters, who will all be at White Hart Lane to see him in action.

Kitson played in the Royals' 1-0 defeat there last season but made little impact as he was still rusty from a seven-month lay-off following a serious knee injury.

Now he is in the form of his life and, with six goals to his name, is arguably the Premier League's most improved player.

But then again Spurs, who thrashed Fulham 5-1 on Boxing Day while Kitson was scoring in a 1-1 draw at West Ham, are probably the top-flight's most improved team right now.

Kitson said: "I played in the away game but I had just come back and could barely move.

"They were tough old days. It was so quick. They had people like Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque.

"I was trying to get close to them and thinking they were so much better than I was but I was being hard on myself because I had been out for seven months and was a shadow of what I am now.

"But Spurs are also better now. I've improved but they have as well in the last few weeks. They look like a team that is full of confidence."

Dad Kevin, mum Corinne and brother Paul will all be in the stands on Saturday along with plenty of his Spurs-mad mates, who started following their fortunes in the 1980s.

Kitson added: "My family are all from Tottenham. My dad grew up with the double-winning side and I grew up with the Hoddles and Waddles and Clive Allen scoring almost 50 goals in one season.

"Glenn Hoddle was the reason I became a footballer and everything I did was based on the way he played. He was my idol as a kid and had a right foot like a wand. He never seemed to move out of the centre circle yet was the best player on the pitch."

Indeed, football is so important in the Kitson household that a goal against Spurs will inevitably cause problems for the former Cambridge United man.

He said: "The old man will be there and will be choked up. It must be really strange for him to see his kid playing where he used to watch his heroes.

"I love scoring goals and if I scored at Spurs, I would go nuts. The only thing better would be to score for Spurs at White Hart Lane.

"The Reading fans all know I support Spurs. I make it no secret and why should I? I think it is sad to be a footballer and not be a fan. It is a sin almost - just horrendous. I can't imagine it.

"All it means is you are a fan of football and there is nothing wrong with that."

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