Tottenham 3-1 Derby County

	Colin Todd offers advice to Derby goalscorer Fabrizio Ravanelli (MikeHewitt/Allsport)

With one flick of his head at Old Trafford ten days ago, Teddy Sheringham showed just how valuable he can be to Sven Goran Eriksson's England.

On Monday, back on the equally familiar territory of White Hart Lane and with the England coach watching, Sheringham underlined the point as Tottenham brushed Derby aside.

This time there was not a goal such as the one he contributed against Greece to help England qualify for the World Cup Finals.

But there was just about everything else Eriksson would have wished to see from a man who could yet prove to be of vital importance to the Swede in Korea and Japan next summer.

Quite simply, Sheringham seems to get better with age - and here he contributed a masterclass in his art.

Eriksson's preference is for two out and out strikers - but every coach needs options, and Sheringham's form this season must seem like manna from heaven for a coach who is aware that English players with genuine vision remain at a premium.

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has always admired the 35-year-old, and he said: 'There are lots of young players at this club, but if Teddy keeps performing like that then I will not be rotating this squad.

'He signed a two-year contract when he arrived in the summer and I think he may be able to extend it. He's in great shape and some of his play was heavenly.'

The ease with which Sheringham ran the game was mirrored by the embarrassing dominance Tottenham held over their struggling opponents.

The former Manchester United striker could have scored twice by the time Les Ferdinand steered Christian Ziege's low cross past Ian Feuer for the opening goal in the 10th minute.

After Derby had equalised out of the blue when Fabrizio Ravanelli poked a shot across Neil Sullivan five minutes later, Sheringham contributed the pass of the night to set up Ziege for the second goal.

Chances had come and gone for Tottenham as half-time approached, but Ziege was presented with the easiest of opportunities after his team-mate split the Derby defence with a diagonal ball of the highest quality.

Tottenham failed to capitalise on their dominance in the second half and the third goal did not come until Gus Poyet - also outstanding - chipped the 6ft 8in Feuer from 35 yards after Youl Mawene stumbled on the ball in injury time.

Hoddle said: 'I was pleased with the performance. We played well, concentrated well at the back and created some good chances.'

Derby, third from bottom of the Premiership, were poor from start to finish and new manager Colin Todd is aware that his squad is not good enough to survive.

He promised the suffering fans that three new players will arrive at the club in time for Saturday's visit of Charlton. One newcomer could be Troyes' Argentine defender Luciano Zavagno, who has had a medical at Derby.

More significantly, however, Todd seemed to hasten the departure of Seth Johnson to Leeds by saying: 'There could well be a player going out. I think you know who that is.'