Luka Modric, in his first season at White Hart Lane, is hoping to draw inspiration from Glenn Hoddle, the former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfield player who helped the club to lift the Uefa Cup 24 years ago.

Nostalgia can be a diversion from present troubles, but Modric has helped to turn minds to the prospect of better times ahead. The Croatia player, who joined Tottenham for £16.5 million in April, has a chance to restart his team’s Uefa Cup campaign against Dynamo Zagreb, his former club, after defeat against Udinese in their opening group D match. “I will try to play my best game so that in a couple of months or a year, the fans can love me like the other players [such as Hoddle],” Modric, 23, said. “I feel some pressure from all these compliments. But I feel self-confident and have to show on the pitch I’m worthy of all the expectations.”

Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, said that John Bostock, whose move in the summer provoked anger from Crystal Palace, his former club, will be on the substitutes’ bench for the first time this season. The left-footed midfield player, 16, impressed during the pre-season training camp in Spain and has been training with the first team. “He has terrific talent,” Redknapp said. “He is still learning the game and he’s still learning where he will play.”

Tottenham will be without Ledley King, who is rested, and Jermaine Jenas, who has a toe injury. Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are cup-tied.

Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-1-1): H Gomes — A Hutton, J Woodgate, M Dawson, B Assou-Ekotto — D Bentley, D Zokora, T Huddlestone, G Bale — L Modric — D Bent.

Dynamo Zagreb (possible; 4-2-3-1): I Kelava — D Lovren, I Biscan, D Drpic, L Ibáñez — I Vrdoljak, M Hrgovic — P Morales, M Mandzukic, Sammir — B Balaban.

Referee: F Fautrel (France).