Tottenham still in title race: Son
LONDON • Tottenham Hotspur will once again look to Son Heung-min for inspiration in the absence of injured captain Harry Kane and midfielder Dele Alli as they take on Newcastle United, who shocked champions Manchester City in midweek.
The South Korean played his first English Premier League match on Wednesday since returning from the Asian Cup and was the standout player against Watford as he netted their crucial equaliser before Spurs ran out 2-1 winners.
Mauricio Pochettino knows how much he needs Son in the absence of Kane and Alli, even if he is aware of the need to avoid burnout.
"He finished very tired, with some cramp. We're going to see if he can recover for the next game," said the Spurs boss after the win.
"If he's okay, maybe he's going to be in the starting XI, if not on the bench. For sure if we need him, he's going to help the team."
Spurs remain seven points adrift of league leaders Liverpool but are now just two points behind second-placed Manchester City.
And Son is adamant that the north London side can still win the Premier League title this season.
"I don't care that people are saying Liverpool or Man City," he said.
"We are still there, we're going for it. They're very good sides like us. We have to just focus on ourselves.
"Every single game, get three points, that's most important. We just believe in our own game, get as many points as possible, and see what happens at the end of the season."
With Kane still sidelined and Fernando Llorente the only backup striker, Pochettino has welcomed forgotten man Vincent Janssen back into the first-team fold.
The Dutch striker, who has been turning out for Spurs' Under-23 side this season as he sought a move away to get his career back on track, had been expected to depart on deadline day on Thursday.
But, despite being linked with several clubs, Spurs found no takers for Janssen at their price point.
Pochettino is now ready to give the 24-year-old a chance to revive his career in England, especially after Mousa Dembele left for China and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou completed a loan move to Monaco.
Asked about Janssen in a press conference yesterday, Pochettino said: "From today, he will be involved in the first team."
Pochettino also gave an update on Kane's recovery from an ankle injury sustained against Manchester United last month. The England international has posted a video on social media which shows that he is already back in light training.
Asked if Kane might be back sooner than the early March date which was originally suggested, Pochettino said: "He is showing on social media that he looks very strong and very fit...
"He is very strong and will put in 200 per cent to try and return as soon as possible. We need to assess, but we are happy in the way that he is recovering."
On Alli, who injured his hamstring against Fulham, Pochettino added: "Dele is the same as Harry - he is doing well."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
TOTTENHAM V NEWCASTLE
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 8.30pm
Football: New favourites Liverpool face two stiff tests of
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday. The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said his side "looked like schoolboys" for Liverpool's winning goal in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
'We looked like schoolboys', says Suarez after Barca crumble
By Leonardo Benassatto and Gabriel Stargardter. SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A woman has accused Brazil soccer player Neymar of raping her in Paris, according to a Sao Paulo police report
Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris, says police
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel - Football News Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over his team, who have now gone seven games without a victory. Two goals from Wilfried Zaha, another from Michy Batshuayi and a penalty from Luka
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel
Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place Maurizio Sarri warned his Chelsea stars to improve their mentality after Willian's sublime strike sealed a hard-fought 2-1 win over struggling Newcastle on Saturday.
Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place
Doing pre-season as a rugby player in my youth we had to train outdoor during hailstorms and weren't allowed to run for cover, we formed a huddle instead and waited it out. Experiences like that build solidarity, camaraderie and fitness. That's why Emery's brother said "none of the players protested".
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel. msn back to msn home sport. Football A-League Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel
London (AFP) - Premier League stars will be among the footballers taking part in a 24-hour social media boycott on Friday as part of a protest against racist abuse online. The campaign, which is being co-ordinated by England's Professional Footballers' Association, urges players to stay off all s
Premier League players to boycott social media in racism
Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group E - Canada v Cameroon - Stade de La Mosson, Montpellier, France - June 10, 2019 Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan celebrates scoring their first goal with team ma
Buchanan goal hands Canada slender 1-0 win over Cameroon
London (AFP) - Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of Oldham Athletic, the club announced on Monday. Scholes, 44, is taking on his first managerial role, signing a contract with the club he supported as a boy after spending his entire playing career at Old Trafford.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes appointed Oldham manager
global.espn.com/football/oldham-athletic/story/3770928/manchester-united-legend-paul-scholes-appointed-oldham-manager
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic on a one-and-a-half year contract. Scholes said: "I just feel ready, really. I've had chances before, I've got my A licence and now the time is right. "It's been 20-30 years since there has been excitement at the club.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes appointed Oldham manager
0 comments:
Post a Comment