SAM Allardyce declared a truce today in his war of words with Glenn Hoddle over Spurs' failed bids to prise Michael Ricketts away from the Reebok.

The Wanderers' boss launched stinging attacks on the North London club, claiming they twice unsettled his top scorer with "approaches" on the eve of the season and just before the August 31 transfer deadline.

On each occasion Hoddle denied making any bid - denials Allardyce now accepts, although he maintains there were overtures the Spurs manager might not have been aware off.

"It wasn't much to do with Glenn," Allardyce explained today as Wanderers headed for tomorrow's Premiership clash at White Hart Lane. "It was other outside factors.

"Maybe he didn't know. Maybe I'll tell him tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Ricketts has been given the backing of his team-mates to go with the support and encouragement of his manager.

The Rocket has not scored a goal in open play since January but he remains Wanderers' most feared attacker and the feeling in the Reebok camp is that he only needs a goal to get him back to his prolific best.

Echoing Allardyce's confidence that 23-year-old Ricketts will come through his barren spell, Simon Charlton said: "If we keep giving him chances, he'll score goals.

"Anyone who is lacking confidence - and we all do at one point or another - just needs the backing of his team-mates, the manager and the management, just to get him going again.

"We've all seen what Ricks can do so it's not that he can't do it. It's just a question of him getting a spawny goal and getting back on track as soon as possible.

"I don't think he's been playing particularly badly but we're all used to seeing him scoring."

Ricketts returns to Tottenham tomorrow - the scene of one of his most impressive strikes last season - hoping he can resume his role as spearhead striker after starting on the subs' bench at Middlesbrough last time out.

His goal in the League game at White Hart Lane, where a late Teddy Sheringham header gave Spurs a dramatic 3-2 victory, left a lasting impression on Hoddle, prompting the wave of speculation over the summer that he was North London bound.

Wanderers lost four times to Spurs last season, including two heavy hammerings in the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup and FA Cup when they fielded weakened sides.

Asked if his players should be spurred by revenge this time, Allardyce responded curtly: "I hope so!"