After two years in the wilderness at Tottenham, midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng believes his move to Portsmouth has given his career a new lease of life. The 22-year-old has impressed in Paul Hart's side since joining the Fratton Park outfit for £4million in August.

Having netted twice in eight Premier League appearances for the south coast strugglers, Boateng is happy to be putting his troubled run in north London behind him.

Boateng said: "First of all when I came to Tottenham, Martin Jol didn't want to sign me. It was (director of football Damien) Comolli who signed me. I came to the club and the gaffer didn't even know me.

"Then he was sacked and (Juande) Ramos came. I played a couple of games and then he said to me that I wasn't good enough.

"So he dropped me and then I wasn't in the squad for 18 weeks. After 12 weeks, I went and asked him why I wasn't playing. But he just said 'keep training, keep training."'

Boateng admits he was never given an explanation for his constant omission from the Tottenham side.

He added: "I didn't know how to handle this, so I did stupid things like arguing with people and so on.

"The first time I argued, the second time I argued - then I was finished. I didn't play anymore.

"Then Harry came and people went to him and said 'Boateng is crazy, he is stupid. He's a good footballer, but he's stupid."'