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Heurelho Gomes fired a parting shot at Tottenham for blocking his every escape route and forcing him to waste three years on the bench.

It is a stunning indictment of the Premier League that Gomes has played only 14 games since May 2011.

For a goalkeeper of his quality not to play a single minute last season is ­scandalous.

Gomes reached the Champions League quarter-finals with Spurs three years ago, under Harry Redknapp, but clever people at White Hart Lane thought they could do better.

But three years, three managers and three keepers later, Tottenham are still waiting to get their snouts back in ­European football’s richest trough.

And Gomes, 33, had to let his contract run down before escaping to Watford, who could be a perfect fit as he reboots in the SkyBet Championship against Bolton at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

After a memorable World Cup, what better way to kick off a new season than with a Brazilian player?

Gomes is honest enough to admit he made mistakes at Spurs. But any blunders were far outweighed by the points he won with saves of rare agility and he frowned: “Tottenham treated me badly, but I am eager to make up for lost time.”

Things could have turned out worse for Gomes. Had his career not stalled in north London, he could have been shellshocked after conceding seven goals in a World Cup semi-final last month.

“I went to Brazil in the summer and it was a great World Cup,” he said. “But the way it ended for us was unbelievable. We made it too easy for Germany and I felt sorry for Julio Cesar.

“Overall he had a great tournament and for a goalkeeper it is not easy to concede seven goals in any game, whether you are playing on the beach or in a World Cup semi-final.

“He did not get enough protection. When those seven goals were going in, I thought, ‘That could have been me’. Unfortunately, he will make history, but that is in the past – I’m here at Watford to try and make a nice bit of history.

“I’ve missed the atmosphere of playing in front of a crowd. In the last three years, I played only 14 games when I should have been at my peak. I have missed the game, but I am fit and I believe I’m still at my best.

“When you have played for Brazil or in a Champions League quarter-final, it is difficult to spend three years on the bench, but unfortunately Tottenham made it that way. I had some opportunities to leave, but they kept blocking it. Always blocking, blocking.”

Brad Friedel, Carlo Cudicini and Hugo Lloris have all had spells as Tottenham’s No.1 while Gomes, who has replaced Manuel Almunia for the Hornets, twiddled his thumbs.

He said: “When Tottenham signed Lloris, Andre Villas-Boas told me he had not asked to sign him, so you cannot do much about a situation like that. I don’t have a problem with Tottenham signing the captain of France – he is a great goalkeeper. For me, the problem was them blocking every move whenever a club wanted to sign me.

“Before Julio Cesar went to QPR they wanted to sign me, but Spurs wanted £6million and it never happened. It was a tough time for me, but it’s over now.

“They brought in Lloris and Brad Friedel, who is also a good keeper, but they did not qualify for the Champions League, so maybe the goalkeeper was not the problem.

“I am as good as the other keepers at Tottenham. I am not better than any of them, but we are all internationals. What happened was the managers’ decision, or the club’s decision, and I have to accept it.

“I am proud of what I achieved at Tottenham, and what we achieved together as a team, by reaching a Champions League quarter-final in 2011, and I played my part in some crucial games.

“When we won at Manchester City to qualify for the Champions League for the first time, I played with a grade-three tear of a groin muscle I had suffered against Bolton three days before. I kept a clean sheet that night and I am proud of that.

(Image: Paul Gilham)

“Maybe I was not consistent, but I played some key games for Tottenham and my numbers show I did well for them. In my first season, I only conceded 10 goals in home games.

“On some occasions I could have done better, but I was proud to be part of the team who reached the Champions League quarter-finals – Tottenham have not qualified since then and I am very happy I helped them to reach where they are now.

“I still believe I can make the difference for any team. I was in the Brazil squad for a reason – and I just need to play again to show my quality.

“I had offers to go abroad, but it was an easy decision for me to come here.

I have been in England for six years now, my family are very settled here and trying to help Watford reach the Premier League is a perfect challenge.

“It is an ambition of mine to play in the Premier League again – not just to play against Tottenham, but it would be great to go back to White Hart Lane because the supporters were fantastic to me there.”