Nacer Chadli says Tottenham need to start banging in the goals as the Lilywhites prepare to return to action at Sunderland on Sunday.

Spurs only found the net three times in their opening four games before the international break, failing to secure a victory any of those matches.

That winless start to the campaign included a goalless draw at home against Everton in Tottenham’s last outing, when Mauricio Pochettino’s side had 20 shots but failed to beat visiting goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Chadli admits he and his team-mates need to improve in that regard and take more of their chances, but he was at least encouraged by the number of opportunities.

“As an attacking player if you don’t create chances it’s a big problem but if you’ve created chances and you don’t score maybe it’s an off day, it can happen to everybody,” said the Belgian.

“I think we have to work hard and be focused on the day of the game, because we had some good moves and just the last shot was not good.

“Three goals is not enough for a club like Tottenham, you have to score more and we know that and we’re going to work harder.”

Spurs will hope two new signings, Clinton Njie and Heung-Min Son, will help them to carry more of a threat and give them more of a cutting edge in the final third.

As versatile attacking midfielders, the pair could challenge Chadli for his place in Pochettino’s side – but he has welcomed their arrivals.

“I always work, I always do my best and we have a lot of games and the manager has to pick his team so it’s ok,” he said. “It’s always good to play with more great players and I think it’s a plus point for us. For me, I’m excited because a club like Tottenham is a big club.”

At the other end of the field, Chadli is pleased to see his countrymen Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld teaming up at the heart of Tottenham’s defence.

The pair helped Spurs to keep their first clean sheet of the season against Everton. And, although they are forced to play in the full-back positions for the Belgium national team due to the presence of Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany and Zenit St Petersburg’s Nicolas Lombaerts, Chadli feels their partnership for Spurs could help them to earn their preferred centre-back spots for the Red Devils.

“Why not, because they’re very good at this position,” said Chadli. “They were very good [against Everton], very strong to deal with [Romelu] Lukaku and sometimes with [Arouna] Kone. It was a very good performance from the defence and we have to keep it like this.”