Lee Barnard has told the club's official web-site of his disappointment at not being able to remain at Crewe Alexandra for the remaining months of the season. The Romford-born striker was recalled by Tottenham Hotspur at the conclusion of his five-month loan agreement at the Alexandra Stadium and as you would expect the ambitious 23-year-old is now focussed on trying to impress Spurs' new manager Juande Ramos.

Crewe's first-team coach Steve Holland was keen for Barnard to remain in South Cheshire, especially as the club have been struggling of late - but Tottenham were eager to assess the potential of Barnard following his long-term injury problems.

Of course, Barnard would love to break into the first team squad at White Hart Lane and he is under no illusion that it will be a difficult task with the likes of Berbatov, Defoe, Keane and Bent ahead of him in the pecking order.

Barnard told the club's official web-site: "To be fair to Steve (Holland) and the club they were very keen for me to stay, and I stated I would be interested in that if I was going to be playing first-team football. I spoke to Steve and he explained that the decision was out-of-his-hands because Tottenham wanted to recall me.

"I would have liked to have stayed longer, but of course I am a Tottenham player and it is my ambition to play more first-team games for them. I am in the last year of my contract there and I think the manager wanted to have a look at me before he decides what to do in the summer.

"He hasn't seen me train let alone play, so I see this as my chance to make a bit of an impression. I know it will be difficult to break into the first-team but hopefully I will be able to get an opportunity to play some games.

"Spurs recently recalled Jamie O'Hara back from a loan spell at Millwall and he has broken through into the first team squad, so hopefully that will happen to me as well."

Barnard scored three goals in ten appearances for Crewe Alexandra and was beginning to show real signs of his class with a fine performance away at Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day. His was showing no ill effects from his recent ankle injury, and was beginning to recapture his overall fitness after nearly two months out.

Lee explained: "Of course, I was hugely disappointed to get injured whilst at Crewe and miss eight weeks of my loan. It was a frustrating time for me, but I really wanted to come back and play for the club again.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Crewe. The management, staff, the lads and the supporters have all been great with me. I would like to thank them all for their support.

"It is a great club and who knows what might happen in the future. If Crewe can get back up there then who knows what might happen.

"It would have been nice to have stayed and played more competitive games, and it is a bit of a shame, but I'm contracted to Tottenham and I can understand their decision. Now it is up to me to try and make the right impression there."

Everyone at Crewe Alexandra would like wish Lee every success with his future career and thank him for his contribution here at the Alexandra Stadium.