TOTTENHAM Hotspur's season really starts now.

A fresh breath of optimism has been injected into White Hart Lane, as Spurs' fans lick their lips in anticipation of watching their new signings in action against Aston Villa tonight (tomorrow morning, Singapore time).

Tottenham recruits Vedran Corluka, Fraizer Campbell and Roman Pavlyuchenko are set to earn their spurs tonight as the north London club prepares to kick-start their sputtering season.

With Dimitar Berbatov's long-running transfer to Manchester United finally behind them, this is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start.

The game against Villa could see all three new signings begin their Spurs careers in what should be a quick awakening to the pressures at White Hart Lane.

Campbell has been training with his new team-mates since his arrival from Old Trafford on 1 Sep, while the other two deadline-day purchases - Corluka and Pavlyuchenko - have arrived back from international duty unscathed and ready for action, likely to benefit from the extra two-day break.

The pressure is on ??pounds;13.8 million ($35.2m)-signing Pavlyuchenko to perform. The Russian star will fill the vacant No.9 shirt vacated by Berbatov.

The game will also see club captain Ledley King, who is injury-free so far this season, make his 200th Premier League appearance for Spurs.

Spurs will be looking to get their season up and running, having won only one point from their three opening League games, with disappointing defeats to Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

There is cause for opimism, though, following Spurs' last League result - a spirited 1-1 draw against Chelsea - and manager Juande Ramos believes his team must replicate that performance.

High confidence

'I hope the confidence is high because at Chelsea we played well and showed we can play against the big teams,' said the Spaniard.

'We now need to play in a similar way against Aston Villa and win.'

However, Ramos knows this is easier said than done.

'Villa are a good team, as they were last season,' he continued.

'It is a team with experience, they play in Europe, a tough team to play and it will be difficult for us.

'But we are playing at home and it's possible to win all these home matches. It's very important to win.

'After the draw at Chelsea, if we win the match and get the three points it will be very good for the confidence, for the players, for the fans, for everyone.' - Wire Services.