Lewis Holtby Outlines Reasons for Leaving Tottenham

Fulham loanee Lewis Holtby has revealed how an ambition to play at the 2014 World Cup motivated his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window.

Holtby made just six starts in the Premier League during the first half of the season and 12 months on from joining the north London club from Schalke, the 23 year old moved to Craven Cottage on loan.

And the Germany international says central to his motivation for leaving Tottenham until the end of the season was the prospect of featuring in the World Cup in Brazil

"I reviewed my season at Spurs and checked how many games I had played recently and I'm a player who wants to play," Holtby admitted.

"I'm hungry for games, especially in the Premier League, that's what I came here for.

"It is a great opportunity for me now at Fulham to get these games and get the full trust of the gaffer, Mr Meulensteen, and show my abilities and what I can do and maybe slot in to the Germany side too, somehow, to get my confidence running.

"I want to show the Premier League and all the pundits what I can do week in, week out on the pitch. To stay in London was perfect, everything felt right from the start. I will try and show people what I can do and hopefully the German national team as well.

"It's very early doors to be honest, I have a half-season loan deal and our task is to stay in the Premier league and if I think about the summer now then I'm not thinking about the task. I have a long contract at Tottenham so I can't really say what will happen in the summer."

Holtby has started twice for Premier League bottom club Fulham since moving from Tottenham, his latest appearance coming in the draw with Manchester United which leaves the Cottagers four points from safety.

Though coach Joachim Low prefers to fill his German squad with midfield players, Holtby faces a tough task to be included in Germany's traveling party to Brazil with the likes of Sidney Sam, Julian Draxler and Toni Kroos his main competition for a place.