Keller: International duty put on hold by Spurs boss Hoddle (BrianBahr/Allsport)

The Spurs manager is refusing to allow goalkeeper Kasey Keller to play for the United States and miss the FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on Sunday week.

After seeing his side blow their chance of a UEFA Cup place by losing 2-1 to Blackburn in Sunday's final, Hoddle has taken a firm line over his reserve goalkeeper's availability for the USA squad.

Winning the FA Cup is now Spurs's only realistic path into Europe next season and Hoddle's crackdown signals his determination not to end the season without a trophy.

The decision is a bitter disappointment for Keller, who was hoping to cement his World Cup place with a good display during a two-week stint with the USA squad.

The American Federation wanted the goalkeeper to play in two friendlies - against Honduras in Seattle and Ecuador in Birmingham-Alabama. But Hoddle has said Keller must be back in Tottenham's squad for the clash with Chelsea at White Hart Lane and that means he can only face Honduras.

Keller has been back-up to first-choice goalkeeper Neil Sullivan for most of this season. The decision is a disappointment for Keller because he has been trying to win the American No1 spot from Blackburn's Brad Friedel who was man of the match in the Worthington Cup Final.

Keller said: 'I was given permission from Glenn to go out for the Concacaf and for the recent friendly in Italy but now I've heard from the American Federation that I have to come back after the first game against Honduras.

'That means I will only be out with the US side for a week. Every game that I play for the national team is a positive move towards winning the No1 spot in the World Cup this summer.

'If I could play these two games I think I would be pretty much there. But now the club are cutting my time short so I can come back and sit on the bench against Manchester United (on 6 March) and Chelsea.

'That is another difficult thing for me in terms of trying to win the No1 spot. Spurs have an agreement with US side that if they need me urgently, I am to return on the next plane.