Tottenham Hotspur striker Roberto Soldado aiming to repay the faith

Tottenham Hotspur striker Roberto Soldado has said that his form since joining from Valencia has been below the standard he expects of himself.

The 28-year-old arrived at White Hart Lane in the summer for a then-club-record fee of £26m, but has only managed to find the net once from open play in 13 Premier League appearances.

"Of course it is difficult, but I certainly don't think that a change of country and a new language is any excuse whatsoever for not performing at the level that I expect of myself," The Telegraph quotes the Spaniard as saying.

"I think that I've been here for long enough now to have a good understanding with my teammates during a game which is the most important thing and let's hope that from now on you will start to see another Roberto Soldado.

"I haven't been performing how I would have expected, this fan support has always been unconditional and at least now I can show my gratitude to them with goals, which is what they want to see."

Soldado scored a hat-trick in Thursday's Europa League victory over Anzhi Makhachkala.