Jake Livermore hopes his emergence this season at Tottenham can inspire the club's academy kids.

Since Ledley King made his Spurs debut in May 1999, no footballer has moved through the junior ranks at White Hart Lane to become an established member of the senior team.

"It has got harder for young players to break through in the Premier League," Livermore told the London Evening Standard. "The bigger the club you're at, the greater the competition and the more they want to sign big-name players. But I've been happy with the game time I've had, especially being at such a good club.

"Is it hard to keep believing you'll make it? That's all down to the individual. I've never doubted my ability and the manager has given me a lot of confidence by throwing me into big games.

"I started the first game of the season at Manchester United, I came on in the next one against Manchester City and in the Arsenal game. That gives you a big lift and when you play with good players every day, it's hard not to be confident."