Michael Dawson is urging his Tottenham team mates to fight fire with fire against Norwich in today's Premier League encounter.

The 29-year-old insists Chris Hughton has made some astute signings to bolster a squad that held Spurs in both league games last season. Robert Snodgrass's late equaliser denied Andre Villas-Boas' side maximum points in the corresponding top flight fixture before Gareth Bale's brilliance rescued a point at Carrow Road.

'Norwich did well last season. We played them early on at the Lane, they caused us a few problems and managed to get away with a draw. Then we lost in the League Cup and drew in the Premier League,' said Dawson. 'They've made some big signings like (Ricky) van Wolfswinkel, (Leroy) Fer and Nathan Redmond from Birmingham. They have a good squad, always a tough team to play and they will be fired up - but so will we.

'It feels like it's been a long couple of weeks here waiting for this next game. We would have liked another game straight away to put things right, especially after losing at Arsenal. It's such a blow for everyone to lose there and we know that.

'We've had a good start to the season and I know come the weekend, the fans will be right behind us and we're all determined to get back to winning ways.'

Belgian international Mousa Dembele retains plenty of happy memories from City's previous league visit after opening his goal account on his Tottenham debut in a 1-1 draw.

'It was a wonderful feeling to score on my debut, and a great experience for me,' he said. 'Norwich is a good team and we have a lot of respect for them. We didn't have a lot of success against them last season and we know it will be tough. 'They have bought some good players as well, players I know from the Dutch league like Fer and van Wolfswinkel, so they have improved, but we are better as well and at home, we need to make the difference.'

Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor was another on duty against the Canaries last season but the striker now appears surplus to requirements after being touted with a move to Schalke and Besiktas in the recent transfer window.

Adebayor is currently on compassionate leave following the recent death of his brother but Andre Villas-Boas has indicated the ex-Arsenal hitman will be consigned to training with the reserves on his return.

'Up to when I find it appropriate, he will train with the development team,' said the Spurs' boss. 'He was a couple of weeks late in relation to the rest of the team, bearing in mind his personal tragedy. So at the moment, things stand as they are. There were opportunities, yes, for him to leave but he was not interested in them, so he didn't. We had to think about the situation so we presented the player and his agents the options we were offered. We have two great goal-scorers here in (Roberto) Soldado and Jermain (Defoe).'