Corluka backs Modric to sparkle SPURS

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Vedran Corluka is convinced Tottenham fans will not have to wait much longer to see the best from Luka Modric.The Croatian playmaker is still adapting to the pace and physicality of the Premier League after completing a £15million move to White Hart Lane. But Modric was schooled in the hard-knocks football of the Bosnian league for a season before establishing himself alongside Corluka in the Dynamo Zagreb first team. And Corluka knows that experience at Zrinjski Mostar, where he shone to be voted the Bosnian league's player of the year, will stand his best mate in good stead. "Luka is surprised at how everything is quick, fast and strong in this league," said Corluka, who is set to make his Spurs debut against Aston Villa on Monday night after completing an £8.5million deadline-day move from Manchester City. "He told me that in two or three more games he will be at his best. It has been a new experience for him so it is not easy but it will not be long before he is at his best. "Playing in Bosnia helped him. That league is full of very hard and strong players - big lads who don't care about you or your health! "He wasn't like them but it made him develop his power and strength so that will help him in this league. This is a better competition but he can cope." Modric's move to White Hart Lane was a key factor in Corluka following him to north London on deadline day. "People back home were talking about the transfer - it's exciting for them because Luka and myself are now playing for the same team. Tottenham are now the national club team for Croatia," Corluka laughed. "Luka's a good lad. Two days after we first met, we went for drinks and you could see that he was a good person. "Now we room together when we are with the national team, so we are still friends. "He is obviously a very good player as well. When he was 14 you could see in his movement, and when he had possession of the ball. He is a complete person." Modric and Corluka first played together as 14-year-olds at Dynamo Zagreb and hit it off immediately. Even now, eight years later, they have a close friendship and keen rivalry on the Playstation. "I always win, I cannot lie," Corluka smiled. He is also good friends with Croatian international team-mate Eduardo, the Arsenal striker who is recovering from a broken ankle which ruled him out of Euro 2008. That will not end just because they are now on opposite sides of the north London divide - at least until they step onto the field. "Eduardo is a close friend of mine from the national team. We have played together since we were 15. I will go and drink with him but when we are on the field, I do not know him," said Corluka. Corluka and Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko are both set to make their Spurs debuts against Villa on Monday as Juande Ramos' men chase their first win of the campaign. It will have been 15 days since the confidence boosting draw at Chelsea but Ramos is determined Spurs can build on that performance. "I hope the confidence is high because at Chelsea we played well and showed we can play against the big teams. "We now need to play in a similar way against Aston Villa and win," said Ramos. "Villa are a good team - as they were last season. They are a team with experience, they play in Europe, a tough team to play and it will be difficult for us - but we are at home and it's possible to win all those matches. "It's very important to win. After the draw at Chelsea, if we win the match and get the three points it will be very good for the confidence, for the players, for the fans, for everyone."