Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov is refusing to use the 'second-season syndrome' as an excuse for his slow start to the campaign.The Bulgaria international was voted into the Professional Footballers' Association's team of the season after his impressive rookie year in England but has only found the net once this term.

A nagging groin problem accounted for his sluggish start when he signed from Bayer Leverkusen but he ended up with 23 goals and now feels he must adapt if defenders have grown wise to his threat.

"Maybe that's it, but it doesn't mean that I should not score, and that's why I work hard to improve myself, because last year was really good for me, and nobody knew me," said the 26-year-old.

"But now maybe everyone knows how I play it's more difficult for me but that's not an excuse for me and I will keep working harder and harder to push myself and the team."

Berbatov has shown glimpses of his class this season but one win in seven Premier League games left Spurs in the bottom three heading into the weekend, with Aston Villa travelling to White Hart Lane for a Monday-evening clash.

"When you lose games it's always depressing, it's always like that in the locker room after the game," he said. "But you keep your head up, you keep working and you go to the next game.

"Sometimes you play well and you lose games, but in football the only thing that counts is the result. Sometimes you play ugly and win, and in football the most important thing is the result.

"And we will try to do that, to win points."

Spurs boss Martin Jol has to choose between his four strikers against Villa, and the Dutchman tends to favour Robbie Keane and Berbatov for bigger matches.

Jermain Defoe has been the striker who has missed out in recent league games, despite fans urging Jol to include him.

"He is a really nice guy and he has his self-belief and he's a very good player," said Berbatov.

"I am sure that in the future he will play a lot, but I am not the coach of the team."

Jol has been under severe pressure after consecutive fifth-placed finishes led to expectations of competing for a Champions League place, but the Dutchman at least has players determined to turn it around.

Berbatov is among the players who are staying behind after training to add to their sharpness.

"Not only me, just everyone who wants to develop stays after training to do a shootout and some exercises," Berbatov said.

"The thing is the gaffer and (assistant boss) Chris Hughton are always trying to teach us."

Players have been steadily returning from injury for Jol as well.

Anthony Gardner is back in training after his ankle problems, and Jermaine Jenas should be fit to face Villa despite straining an abdominal muscle last week. Ledley King is still out as he recovers from knee surgery.

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