Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers officials were keen to proclaim the revitalising qualities of the Uefa Cup after yesterday's group draw and, with their clubs languishing 17th and 19th in the Premier League respectively, no wonder.

While Martin Jol was handed a chance to restore confidence on the back of European football, Sammy Lee faces a more daunting task, despite the Bolton chairman Phil Gartside's declaration that a trip to Bayern Munich presented "a great fillip" for the team.

For Spurs a group containing Anderlecht, whom they beat in the 1984 Uefa Cup final, Getafe, Hapoel Tel Aviv and AaB Aalborg, had Damien Comolli looking forward to a revival. "It is what happened to us last year. We must build on it," said the director of football.

Bolton face a formidable task in a section that includes Bayern, top of the Bundesliga by five points with the Italy forward Luca Toni in prolific form, and Crvena Zvezda, formerly Red Star Belgrade. Three teams from each group qualify for the last 32.

Everton have arguably the toughest route among the English clubs towards the latter stages in a finely balanced group. David Moyes' team begin at home to Blackburn's conquerors, Larissa at Goodison Park on October 25th, before a trip to face Bundesliga strugglers Nuremberg two weeks later.

Russians Zenit St Petersburg are next up on Merseyside before they finish with a daunting trip to AZ Alkmaar, quarter-finalists last year.

Scottish club Aberdeen were happy just to make the group stage after their stunning win over Ukrainians Dnipro, and matters will not get any easier from here.

A trip to Greek giants Panathinaikos begins their campaign before they host Lokomotiv Moscow.

They then travel to the Spanish capital to face Atletico Madrid and close out by hosting FC Copenhagen at Pittodrie.