Partizan v Tottenham: Captain Kaboul reports for duty

Younes Kaboul s tenure as Tottenham club captain begins with a trip to Partizan in the UEFA Europa League group stage on Thursday.

The French defender was confirmed as the club s new skipper on Monday following the departure of former incumbent Michael Dawson to Hull City, with Hugo Lloris and Emmanuel Adebayor assisting him as vice-captains.

Kaboul joined Tottenham in 2007, but left for Portsmouth a year later before returning to White Hart Lane in 2010, and coach Mauricio Pochettino believes the 28-year-old has the attributes to be a success in the role.

Younes has shown me all the values needed to be a captain, he told the club s official website. He has the character to lead this team as well as the respect of his team-mates.

Hugo and Ade will be vice-captains and both of them, along with Younes, possess tremendous experience and have all shown a great attitude and leadership.

Kaboul himself added: I am delighted to have been given this responsibility. To follow in the footsteps of some of the legendary captains that have represented this football club is a fantastic honour.

It is a great achievement for me on a personal level and I hope to help lead this team to great things in the future.

And should he be selected to feature on Thursday Kaboul s first task will be to lead Tottenham to a winning start in Belgrade.

The London club have become a regular feature in this competition in recent seasons, with this being their fourth participation in succession.

A run to the quarter-finals during the 2012-13 campaign remains their best performance in that time.

Partizan s European adventure began in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, but a defeat to Ludogorets at the next stage saw them parachute into the Europa League, overcoming Neftci of Azerbaijan 5-3 on aggregate to book their place in Group C alongside Tottenham, Besiktas and Asteras Tripolis.

The Serbian club will have bad memories of facing London opposition, though, having lost 3-1 at home and away to Arsenal during the group stage of the 2010-11 Champions League.

Roberto Soldado (neck) and Jan Vertonghen (muscular) both missed out for Tottenham in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland at the weekend, while Kyle Walker underwent abdominal surgery earlier this month.

Petar Skuletic is suspended for the hosts.

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