Spurs edged Swansea 1-0 at home on Sunday to move fourth on the English Premier League table, two points clear of Everton and West Bromwich Albion, who are level on points in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Tottenham have four league matches in the space of 10 days coming up, with winnable games against the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland and Reading potentially offering an opportunity to cement their position in the Champions League qualifying places.

"The Premier League this season from third place to tenth is very, very tight this year and the teams are separated by just four or five points," Villas-Boas said.

"After the Christmas fixtures it can all look very different so it's important for us to break out from the pack and join the top. But we need to know it won't be easy, but if we keep on this good form we can distance ourselves a little bit.

"But the margin of seven or eight points in the Premier League means nothing."

Tottenham started slowly in what is Villas-Boas' first campaign in charge, but have begun to appear increasingly assured.

According to the former Porto and Chelsea coach, injuries and the departure of some key personnel played a major role in Spurs' indifferent early season form.

"We lost Younes (Kaboul), we lost Gareth (Bale), (Moussa) Dembele, (Scott) Parker, (Benoit) Assou- Ekotto, Rafa (Rafael van der Vaart) and (Luka) Modric," he said.

"All of these players who played well last season, so this is a new team for Spurs.

"We had injuries to some players so to have them back now is a major boost. Benoit is not far off, Michael Dawson is returning next week, as is Gareth.

"Scott in back now so we have increased competition for players. But it will be the first time we have some players available, so it will be a massive boost."

Tottenham's next match is at home to Stoke City on Saturday.