Friedel to return for Spurs as AVB says he's going nowhere

FRIE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW ... Andre Villas-Boas and Brad Friedel

BRAD FRIEDEL is set to return for Tottenham tonight — after being told to forget about a Blackburn return.

The Europa League crunch against Panathinaikos will be the veteran’s first start for almost a month.

Hugo Lloris has started the last five games, fuelling speculation that the American, 41, will return to old club Rovers.

But boss Andre Villas-Boas said: “Brad’s been excellent, I spoke to him and he has been such an important player. Rotation has not been on performance, as I have explained before — as both keepers have been excellent.

“It gives me the ability at any time to throw a different keeper into the game. I don’t know anything about Blackburn interest. We are trying to hold on to our best assets.

“I said it in the case of Gareth Bale and it is the same with Brad too.”

AVB is not just concentrating on keeping hold of his assets — he is set to splash some cash in the transfer window.

The Portuguese made a cross-Channel dash in a last-ditch bid to persuade Joao Moutinho to join Spurs in a £22million switch.

Villas-Boas told chairman Daniel Levy that the Porto playmaker remains his No 1 transfer target.

He was left frustrated when a deal for the midfielder, 26, collapsed on deadline day in August.

Big-spending Paris St Germain are now understood to have stolen a march in the race for the midfielder.

Moutinho was the star player in the Champions League clash at PSG on Tuesday. AVB raced to the French capital to make it clear to him and his representatives that Tottenham are still interested.

Spurs will reach the knockout stage of the Europa League if they avoid defeat in their final Group J game. Panathinaikos know victory would send them through.