Lloris won't be happy with bit-part role at Spurs

PARIS (AP) -Hugo Lloris is determined to prove he deserves to be Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper and won't settle for a bit-part role.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas signed Lloris from Lyon on transfer deadline day in August but has used 41-year-old Brad Friedel after the former United States international made a string of strong performances.

Lloris only made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa on Sunday, ending Friedel's run of 310 consecutive Premier League matches.

Lloris told sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday he was disappointed to be on the bench because "things are clear, I didn't sign for Tottenham to have that role.''

Capped 40 times by France, the 25-year-old Lloris is among Europe's most highly-rated keepers and says "I have a status, I want to keep it as long as possible.''