With temporary stints at nine different clubs in four years, Tottenham's Andros Townsend spent more time on loan than the most popular book at a public library.

Despite signing for Spurs in 2009, Townsend had been shipped around mercilessly to the lower divisions, with clubs including Leeds, Watford and Birmingham City having benefitted from his talents, before finally convincing his bosses to give him a shot at White Hart Lane heading into the 2013-14 season.

While Spurs pride themselves as one of the most savvy clubs in the transfer market, Townsend - a product of the club's youth academy - didn't cost them a penny. Since getting his chance in the first team, he has managed to outperform some of the club's glamour signings to hold his own not only at Tottenham, but also in Roy Hodgson's England squad, bagging three goals in seven appearances.

"I had that real breakthrough moment in my career last season and hopefully I can stay fit - it's now a matter of getting my form back up to where it was," he told Fairfax Media on Friday. "Then hopefully I'll be able to be part of Spurs and England set- out to make most of his chanceup for many years to come. The England manager has always shown faith in me, whether I've been in the team at Spurs or out of it, and it's nice to know the manager has that faith in my ability.

"Every time I go out on the pitch I want to repay that belief and hopefully I can get another one or two more caps and score another one or two more goals."

While plenty believed Spurs were a decent chance of bagging a Champions League place this season, Townsend is hardly disheartened by just missing out.

"Of course, we'd have liked to have done better, but you have to remember it's been the manager's [Mauricio Pochettino] first season and he's introduced a lot of new, young players straight out of the academy," he said. "I think it's been a real transitional period for us, but to get to a cup final and to get to fifth in the league is no mean feat. At the same time, next season we'll be looking to go one better than that."

Technically, Spurs' competitive season ended on Monday morning, Sydney time,  when they saw off Everton 1-0 in their final match of the Premier League, but Townsend isn't booking his holidays just yet.

"For me, the season isn't over - it will be over when I get back to England and then join back up with the England national team. For me, I'm using this trip as a way to keep fit for that, which makes this a really positive trip," he said. "I think we should get two or three weeks off after the internationals are finished. When that time comes, I'll go away from football and switch off for a few weeks."

While some of Tottenham's supporters back in London might have furrowed brows at the thought of their team's jaunt to the other side of the world, the 23-year old said he believed the side would get plenty out of the trip - and not just a haul of souvenir photos.

"I think the main thing you get out of a trip like this is the team bonding. It's been a tough season, and we've all given sweat and blood during the campaign, so I think it's important to relax together and bond as a team," he said. "Of course, the main thing for us is to get our fitness in over two games that will be in tough conditions. We really want to get through these matches good shape."

Like his teammates, Townsend was thrilled with the reaction of Tottenham's Australian-based fans, not least at Sydney airport, where hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome their heroes on Thursday.

"It's been really good and I think the reception since we landed has been incredible. As soon as we got off the plane, we could hear everyone singing Spurs' songs," he said. "It's been fantastic and I'm hoping we can put a real show on for the fans on Saturday."