Tottenham midfielder David Bentley is hoping to make an impact when he returns to the club in January after spending three months on-loan at Russian club FC Rostov.

The 28-year-old was a big money signing back in the summer of 2008 when he moved from Blackburn Rovers but he has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane.

David Bentley
David Bentley hopes to impress AVB upon his return to Spurs in January [Reuters]

Loan spells at Birmingham City and West Ham failed to end in a move away from Tottenham and after a nightmare spell of injuries he decided to join Rostov in a bid to regain his match sharpness.

The winger is now hoping that he can impress new manager Andre Villas-Boas when he returns to the club in the New Year.

"[Villas-Boas] is a very good coach. He's got new ideas. He was very good with me but after spending a year out [injured] and then having players in front of you, you fall down the pecking order so you have to go away and get fit again," Bentley told Talksport.

"It's been a difficult four years but that's life and football. I'll move on. I came here for three months. It was only 13 games to get back in to the swing of things. I'm contracted to Tottenham until the end of the season. So I'll go back and see what happens from there."

Bentley will have plenty of competition for a spot on the right wing upon returning to Tottenham as Aaron Lennon has proved to be a favourite under Villas-Boas, while Andros Townsend has also been given plenty of opportunities this season.

However, the former Arsenal youth player could prove to be a useful squad player as Tottenham aim to secure a top four finish, while also competing in the Europa League which is placed high on the priority list of Villas-Boas.