WORTHINGTON Cup fan Glenn Hoddle admitted today that Spurs face a tough task if they are to fulfil their ambitions of picking up silverware in his first full season in charge.

The Tottenham boss sees the competition as a route into Europe but, after pulling a home draw with Wanderers in the quarter-finals, he warned his players they will have to be at their best to make the last four.

Wanderers now face two trips to White Hart Lane in successive weeks after being paired with the Londoners in the draw, which was made last night after Spurs had won their fourth round tie 2-1 at Fulham.

"Bolton will be a tough one," Hoddle said, "they always are when you get to the quarter-finals. Ironically we're playing them on Monday so we can have a good look at each other."

Hoddle, unlike some managers of his big Premiership rivals, is a fan of the much-derided Worthington Cup and would even like to see it extended to bring in some of the leading Scottish clubs, an idea already mooted in other quarters.

He said: "I can understand why some clubs who have European commitments rotate their players in the Worthington Cup but we don't have that luxury. The competition means a lot to us because it offers us another route into Europe, where this club should be.

"I think it is still a very worthwhile competition with a major final at the end. And it could be made even better if top Scottish clubs like Rangers and Celtic were incorporated. There was talk of a British Cup not so long ago and I believe it is an idea worth trying."

For Wanderers, who beat Spurs 6-1 at the fourth round stage of the 96-97 competition, the tie is sure to rank as a lower priority than Monday's Premiership game. Wednesday, December 12 has been pencilled in but with three of the four ties earmarked for television, the date had still to be confirmed this morning.

Sam Allardyce has so far used the Worthington Cup campaign to give his fringe first-teamers a fling while taking the opportunity to rest many of his regulars. Nevertheless, he also sees the competition as a possible route into Europe and, despite making nine changes for Tuesday's fourth round tie against Southampton, his response to the events - delight at the result, anger at his defence for twice squandering the lead - illustrated his determination to go as far as possible.

"Make no mistake," he insisted, "I wanted to win this one."