TOTTENHAM Hotspur have the best set of strikers in the Premiership, according to one of their former hitmen, Les Ferdinand.

But the problem for manager Martin Jol is: How does he keep them happy?

Spurs spent £16.5 million ($51m) to sign Darren Bent from Charlton in the offseason, to add to a strike force that already boasts Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe.

Ferdinand, speaking at the launch of the Setanta TV Sports channels, said: 'Tottenham have got the best quartet of strikers in the Premiership at this moment in time.

'The only way you can keep them happy is by playing them.

ROTATIONAL POLICY

'I don't think the manager has a rotational policy; he takes it game by game.

'If a player is scoring, then he is in.'

Ferdinand believes that England international Defoe, currently seen as fourth choice, could leave in the January transfer window if he finds his playing time limited.

Defoe failed to secure a regular first-team place last season - scoring just 10 league goals.

'I was very fortunate in my career because there weren't many occasions when I was left on the bench.

'As I got older, it happened, of course, but not in my heyday.

'Whenever I was dropped, I never knocked on the manager's door; I always looked at my own performance.

'Jermain has got to do the same and that's what he says he wants to do.

'A lot of players would have seen Darren Bent come in and said 'right, I'm going' but Jermain has not done that.

'He believes in his own ability. And if he gets the opportunity, he will stay in the side.'

But despite rumours that he would be leaving White Hart Lane this year, Defoe showed he is ready to battle it out with Keane, Berbatov and new signing Bent.

But the striker has two years left on his contract with the north London club and Ferdinand reckons the time for him to contemplate his next move could come as early as January.

'Six months down the line is another time for Jermain to assess his situation and for Tottenham to do the same,' he said.

'If he's in the side, he won't be for sale and they will be looking for him to sign a new contract.

'If he is out of the side, they will be looking to sell him.

'Crunch time for Jermain will come in January.' - PA Sport.