Tottenham captain Ledley King admits his troublesome knees are a source of frustration.

King has to nurse his troublesome knee through the week, often training alone and missing out on much of the usual banter normally associated with a team preparing for a match.

"Of course, the injury holds me back in one sense but in another - through having to deal with the adversity of not being able to play every week and not being able to train - I've had to invest heavily in the mental side of things and I believe that, in itself, has made me a more complete player," he tells hotspur magazine.

"It's not easy...it's tough. But it's something that I have learned to deal with.

"It goes against all the coaching manuals and all the best advice, but if it means I can play a part, then that's the way it has to be. I love playing and for as long as I feel I can perform at the highest level then I will do it.

"I still feel I'm playing the best football of my career and when I can build up a consistency of games and get into a rhythm then that's when I'm at my best."