Chris Perry Delivers Verdict on Top Four Finish for Tottenham

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Chris Perry believes Tim Sherwood's side has the potential to achieve a top four finish in the Premier League in the current campaign.

The 40-year-old considers Spurs' recent run of matches can help them achieve their quest to bring Champions League football to White Hart Lane next season.

Since the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas last December, Sherwood's men have won seven matches out of the 10 played in the league so far, suffering only a single defeat (1-5 against Manchester City).

The north London side have garnered 50 points and sit fifth while Liverpool are fourth having 53 points on their account having played 26 matches each. With just three points separating the two sides, Perry believes his former employers can easily overcome the gap owing to the improved performances by the Sherwood's men.

"They look like they are playing with a new enthusiasm and vigour. Players who looked like they weren't quite at it are suddenly doing what everyone thought they could do when Tottenham bought them," Perry told talkSPORT.

"A little bit like Liverpool they've come in under the radar, Liverpool as title contenders and Tottenham have really snuck up on everybody's shoulders as contenders for the top four. There's no reason now, only three points behind Liverpool, that they can't finish there [in the top four]."

"Players like [Nacer] Chadli, [Etienne] Capoue coming into the team and [Kyle] Naughton are suddenly doing well. The squad is starting to get fitter. You've got Andros Townsend coming back fit, Paulinho's just come back in and the squad's looking a bit healthier now. So I think Spurs can go on all fronts," he added.

Spurs managed to finish fourth during the 2011/12 league campaign but missed out on Champions League after Chelsea qualified for the following season of the tournament as defending champions.

They lost the final place in the European competition after finishing fifth behind their arch rivals Arsenal last season.

In their previous league fixture, Sherwood's side annihilated Newcastle United 4-0 at St James' Park on Wednesday. Emmanuel Adebayor scored a brace while Paulinho and Chadli added a goal to their tally.