Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko aims cheeky dig at Newcastle United

The 27-year-old, currently away on international duty with France, has endured a difficult start to life at White Hart Lane since his £30million summer switch.

Having failed to endear himself to the Spurs faithful with a number of below par performances, he's alienated the few Geordies who continued to hold the former Toulouse man in any regard by claiming his new club are bigger than the Magpies.

"Tottenham is the biggest club I have known," said Sissoko.

"You must convince in every game, every training session. But competition never scared me and the coach is correct.

"It means playing the best players of the moment, for the team, always comes first. If we want to win something late in the season then that is how we can get there."

Reflecting on his difficult first few months, which comes after a summer of discontent on Tyneside for the midfielder, Sissoko thinks his big money price tag might be something that has weighed heavy on his shoulders.

He continued: "It's true that there has been a lot of mishaps; my late signing, my lack of preparation for the season, my blow to the head against Middlesbrough, and this suspension.

"When I arrived, I felt that my team-mates were aware of the amount of my transfer. I was not just any player, but I ignore all of this.

"I was not at the top when I signed, but that's normal. They all worked well this summer while I had a mini-preparation.

"The suspension fell at the wrong time. In addition, it was something involuntary. Even the opposition player said. I had to work harder than others in training and some double sessions to keep up.

"All that now is behind me. I have come out, grown up. All the lights are green."