Freddie letter on way

"The paperwork must also prove that the player has dual nationality."

The outcome of the hearing should be known by late Wednesday afternoon - just prior to Tottenham's vital home clash with Birmingham at White Hart Lane.

But Spurs are already bracing themselves for the loss of their top scorer for up to five weeks. Kanoute has already played for the French Under-21s but, under new FIFA rules that came into force on 1 January, he can now switch his footballing nationality because he has Malian parents.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld today dismissed speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job.

A week after being rumoured to be England's first-choice if Sven-Goran Eriksson quits, Hitzfeld's name was being connected to the role at White Hart Lane after he admitted getting enquiries over his availability.

The Bayern Munich coach has insisted he intends to see out his contract with the German giants, which expires in 2005. However, he said: "Several people from England have called who are interested in me. But to talk about it now is hypothetical."

The highly regarded Hitzfeld, who has guided two different clubs to a Champions Cup title and led Bayern to four Bundesliga titles in five years, did not specify which teams have been in touch but reports this morning say one is Spurs.

On England, however, Hitzfeld has said: "No-one has asked me about the job and it doesn't interest me much at the moment. I want to fulfil my contract with Bayern Munich until 2005."

Spurs declined to clarify today their position over bringing in a new first-team coach or their attitude towards their top scorer.

Despite assurances from sources that the club was negotiating with their number one target in an effort to bring him in before the Liverpool game next week, weekend comments from chairman Daniel Levy appeared to contradict-that position. Levy was quoted as saying: "If the right manager becomes available, then we would look to bring him in sooner. Circumstances can change but I don't think that's about to happen. David is manager until the end of the season. I said that at our annual meeting and I don't envisage that changing."

On Kanoute, acting manager David Pleat had clearly indicated last week that the striker may be dropped for the Crystal Palace match and then denied he had any intention of axing him or that the club were considering selling Kanoute.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace striker Dougie Freedman has offered to help in any Spurs appeal over Gus Poyet's controversial red card during their FA Cup tie, which Spurs won 3-0 with a Kanoute hat-trick.

Freedman tried in vain to persuade referee Andy D'Urso not to dismiss Poyet for a lame head butt when the pair clashed in the second half.