LONDON -- Christian Eriksen has confirmed he gave up the chance to score the first competitive hat trick of his career in Tottenham's 5-0 win over Gillingham because it was more important for Vincent Janssen to score.
Eriksen had already scored twice to give Spurs a 2-0 lead in Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round match, when Kieran Trippier was fouled in the box after 50 minutes.
Janssen, 22, had been frustrated on his seventh appearance -- and second start -- for the club and he grabbed the ball ahead the Dane and Erik Lamela to score his first goal since joining Spurs for £17 million from AZ Alkmaar.
With Harry Kane facing a spell on the sidelines after damaging his ankle ligaments, Janssen is set for an extended run in the team and Eriksen says taking the penalty was more important to the Dutch international.
"I did think about it but I saw on Vincent's face and in his body language that he really wanted, it and you can feel for a striker," said Eriksen, who bagged a treble for Denmark in a friendly in June but has never scored more than two in a match at club level.
"And it is not as important for me. Two or three goals, it doesn't really matter. We had so many chances and we should have scored a few each in the first half, so I was happy for him also and he did say thank you also so it was a good one.
"Also especially today in the first half he had a lot of shots. I think normally he would have scored, but he was a bit relaxed after that and I think if you give him a penalty there is no better chance for a striker to score an easy goal.
"Of course it will be difficult to step in for Harry but if he does what he is good at and does what he did today there will be some good games for him.
"I think definitely we can cover it [Kane's injury]. Of course we are one player out but everyone else can step in. We have a very good, strong squad so it could be anyone who takes his place. Of course when Harry is not here we miss some goals and they need to come from someone else."
Eriksen's double came after he twice assisted Son Heung-Min in the 4-0 win at Stoke, and his form has been much-improved after he agreed a new four-year deal with the club, following months of talks.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Eriksen could have been subconsciously affected by the situation, but the former Ajax player said: "I was happy before, so there is no difference.
"I am still a Spurs player, even if I was in negotiations or anything else. There was a lot of talk in the press of course, but for me it was just about football. And I wanted to stay so for me there was no argument in between. But of course I am happy that I extended my contract and I like it here."
Eriksen is one of no fewer than six Spurs players to agree new long-term deals in the past fortnight. And more announcements are expected, with Kyle Walker, Lamela and Harry Kane all in talks with the club.
"When someone starts, somebody else jumps on top of it and you can see a lot of players have signed a new deal," Eriksen said. "A lot of players want to stay a part of it. And like everyone has said before and will probably say again, as a team we have a really bright future and we want to work for each other and think there is something special to build on and I think that's why everybody wants to sign.
"It is similar to last year with the players we have got but I think the players who played all the games last season are still here and that is the main thing. Everyone is on top of their game and wants to improve what we did last season which was very good. Of course it will be a difficult one to beat but we are doing our best to do it.
"I have been here for a few years now and everything is going how everything needs to be done. So of course I get the experience from all the games I have played and all that stuff makes it easier and easier so yes I feel comfortable."