Tottenham boss Martin Jol had to virtually 'beg' to Dimitar Berbatov to leave the bench in the second-half of last night's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle, it has been revealed.

The Daily Mail says Spurs manager Jol dropped last season's top scorer to the bench and then had to virtually beg the Bulgarian to go on in the second half.

Jol had to ask him three times before he eventually stripped and came on as Spurs fought desperately to recover from goals either side of half time by Obafemi Martins and Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa for the Toon Army.

And though Robbie Keane gave Tottenham hope with his seventh goal in the last seven games, a brilliant volley in the 74th minute by England Under 21 winger James Milner settled the issue.