Alan Pardew will take the first steps in his efforts to steer Crystal Palace away from the Premier League relegation zone when Tottenham visit Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Pardew abandoned his efforts to secure European football with Newcastle in favour of a survival scrap when he agreed a three-and-a-half year contract to succeed Neil Warnock at the club he once played for.

Palace currently sit third from bottom of the table and Pardew will be expected to repeat Tony Pulis's success of last season when the former manager secured Palace's top-flight status by transforming the club's form in the second half of the season.

Pardew has already overseen last weekend's FA Cup victory over non-league Dover, but he knows his main business begins against Mauricio Pochettino's side.

"We have got a tough challenge. Our home form is not good so we need to try and turn our home situation into a positive for us. In terms of the players, I think they need a lift," Pardew said.

"Hopefully a signing or two could do that. Then hopefully we can get on a run that leads us to safety.

"There is a feeling among the players that they can do it and you need that belief to start building."

And explaining his surprise decision to leave Newcastle, he added: "It was difficult to leave because it is a big club.

"It is a club that is run on fairly tight financial margins. Our net spend was one of the lowest in the Premier League.

"We really had to work hard at transfers because, when it is a club that size, it is difficult for the fans to understand building slowly.

"It was my decision. (Palace chairman) Steve Parish met the clause in my contract so I had a decision to make. I thought this new challenge would be a good one for me. I think am a good fit for Palace.

"It was right for me and hopefully for Palace. Also for Newcastle, because four years with that monetary situation and the history means it is difficult for the manager.

"I have left a good club and I like to think I have left it with a good base of players."

Tottenham's New Year's Day victory over Chelsea underlined their recent progress and Pochettino's side head to south London unbeaten in six Premier League games.

That has left Spurs in fifth place, two points behind Southampton in the race to qualify for the Champions League, with their challenge for a top four place back on track.

Key to their recent upturn has been the form of Harry Kane, the young forward who has scored six goals in his last seven appearances.

Pochettino, though, remains keen to add another striker to his ranks and while Jermain Defoe has been training at his former club, there is no chance the Toronto FC forward will make a full time return.

Burnley forward Danny Ings is reported to have caught the eye of the Spurs manager, who also remains keen on a reunion with Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez.

Spurs have also been linked with a move for Fenerbahce's Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike.

Emenike's agent Erdem Konyar said: "Tottenham have really only one striker now so it is not a surprise they are interested."

Midfielder Ryan Mason and winger Erik Lamela are both rated doubtful ahead of the trip to Palace.