Gylfi Sigurdsson insists he never considered quitting Tottenham, despite influx of new players including Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen
The Iceland international scored twice against Norwich at the weekend
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Your support makes all the difference.Gylfi Sigurdsson insists he had no desire to leave Tottenham in the transfer window even though the club signed a number of players in his position.
Tottenham's drive to minimalise the impact of Gareth Bale's departure meant seven new players arrived at the club this summer.
New boys Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen can all operate in either the number 10 position or on the left flank, where Sigurdsson enjoyed so much success in the second half of last season.
Sunderland were reported to be interested in the Icelandic midfielder, but he decided to stay.
"I wasn't close to leaving," Sigurdsson said.
"I came here was to play for a big club. When I joined I knew there would be loads of players and competition.
"You can either be unhappy and leave or look at it as a challenge.
"Hopefully you'll improve and fight for your place as you know if you do the right thing every day things fall your way and I'm hoping that will happen."
Sigurdsson had two new signings to thank for helping him score his first two goals of the season last Saturday.
Eriksen, a £11.5million signing from Ajax, laid him on for his first and Brazil international Paulinho supplied the pass that led the Icelandic star to kill off the game.
The two strikes against Norwich, and Tottenham's impressive start to the season, suggest that it may not be so difficult for the seven additions to gel with the rest of the squad.
"The first game when everyone was in was a bit quiet but we're back to normal now," Sigurdsson said.
"Everyone knows each other and it's a good and positive dressing room. There are quite a few jokers.
"We are all of a similar age which helps with the players coming in. It makes them feel welcome and part of the group.
"When we have time off we play golf and hang out. I'd say I'm the best. I try to play off seven. There are a few bandits - Kyle Walker is one. He has just got into it and is good to be fair for someone who has just started."
One Spurs tradition the new signings will not be spared is a rather brutal version of the birthday bumps, which the squad dished out to Lewis Holtby on Wednesday.
As part of his punishment for turning 23, the German was on the receiving end of a flurry of punches as he ran through a tunnel formed by the Tottenham squad in training.
"It was Lewis Holtby's birthday so we had a tunnel - everyone has to go through and we try to hit him as hard as we can," Sigurdsson said.
"It hadn't started when I got here so I got away with it."
Sigurdsson is expected to retain his place in the Spurs starting XI for Thursday night's Europa League home game against Norwegian minnows Tromso.
But with a total of three games in six days, manager Andre Villas-Boas is likely to give a number of his fringe players a start.
PA
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