Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto has backed his manager's decision to keep Brad Friedel as the number one keeper at the club, despite the arrival of Hugo Lloris.

The French captain arrived in a £12million deal but was forced to sit out of Tottenham's home game against Norwich as Andre Villas-Boas decided to stick with Friedel.

Hugo Lloris
Lloris is unhappy about being the number two at Spurs [Reuters] Reuters

Lloris is said to be frustrated at being forced to play second fiddle to the veteran American goalkeeper and is planning on confronting his new boss when he returns from international duty.

"When I join up with the national team, I concentrate uniquely and we'll see about my personal situation when I go back," said the former Lyon stopper.

"Obviously it is not nice if the coach says he will pick someone else for the first team, but we can see what happens.

"For now, I have to put the situation to one side as France have important matches and I cannot worry about what might happen at my club."

Now Assou-Ekotto has given his support to Villas-Boas by claiming he was right to stick by Friedel.

"It won't be easy for him because there is competition," the defender told French radio station RMC, as reported on the Daily Mail.

"Number one keeper in the French team or not, he will have to fight to get the position in the team. We currently have a keeper that doesn't make any mistakes, who is very well-known in Great Britain.

"To start I believe Lloris will be number two. If our keeper doesn't make any mistakes there is no reason to change."

Friedel may well be coming to the end of a long career but he demonstrated in the 1-1 draw with Norwich that he is still one of the best keeper in the Premier League.

His display was recognised by Villas-Boas who praised Friedel for helping Tottenham remain in the game after a difficult first half against the Canaries.

"In the first half he was outstanding," said the former Chelsea boss. "Last week we had a difficult second half and in the first half here Norwich played extremely well and only Brad saved us."