Harry Kane’s return from injury could be the key to Tottenham returning to form
For the first few weeks of the English Premier League campaign, Tottenham were looking like the business.
Spurs looked like last season would not be a one-off. However, somehow Mauricio Pochettino’s side have gone seven games without a win in any competition.
Spurs remain unbeaten in the top-flight, though, having drawn their last four top-flight matches. On Saturday evening the side from north London host West Ham at White Hart Lane and it is a massive chance to put things right.
There are still positives for Spurs and no doubt the side that started the campaign so well will reappear in the near future. Here are two of the positives for Tottenham fans:
Spurs still have a very solid defensive record
Tottenham have the best defensive record in the Premier League. That statistic is quite impressive considering that one of Spurs first choice centre-backs Toby Alderweireld has been injured for the last three top-flight games.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino always seems to have his team well organised. They never seem like a team that look vulnerable to concede goals. They say that a good team is built on a solid defensive foundation. Well, Spurs have definitely got that.
Spurs fans will also be encouraged by the displays of England full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, who have also been highly effective going forward this season.
Tottenham’s good defensive record does not bode well for West Ham, who have struggled to find the net this season in the top-flight.
Harry Kane is back from injury
The return from injury of Harry Kane could be the key to Tottenham rediscovering their winning touch. The England international missed five Premier League games through injury and only return against Arsenal before the international break.
The striker was not fit enough to play the 90 minutes against Arsenal. However, he played 72 minutes and scored the vital equaliser to secure Spurs a point in the local derby.
The fact that he made an immediate impact on the team, scoring a vital goal showed just how important he is to the team from North London. Without Kane, Pochettino’s side have struggled for goals.
Prior to Kane’s return against Arsenal, Spurs had scored just two goals in their last five games in all competitions. Any team would miss a striker of Kane’s quality . Spurs are no exception. Stand in Vincent Janssen struggled to make an impact in the striker absence. Take Kane out of the Tottenham team and they lose a lot of their attacking edge.
The England international was an unused substitute in the Three Lions 3-0 win over Scotland. He was then allowed to return to Tottenham to resume his recovery from injury. Hopefully, he is fit and ready to face West Ham.
Favourites to beat West Ham
West Ham looked like they had turned a corner with three consecutive wins recently. However, a 2-0 defeat at Everton and a 1-1 home draw with Stoke suggests that the Hammers are a long way from rediscovering the form of last year that saw them finish seventh in the Premier League.
Despite their recent poor run of form, Tottenham will head into this clash as favourites to record the win at odds of 1/ 2. It seems that Spurs are highly fancied to win this game and with good reason considering they have lost just one of their last 13 home Premier League games.
Tottenham have kept themselves in contention at the top of the table, despite that winless run. Pochettino’s team are fifth. In fact they are just five points off league leaders Liverpool at the top of the table.
Spurs still have a chance of mounting a realistic title challenge this season. That challenge may well start on Sunday, as the happy Hammers have been more like the hapless Hammers in recent times. I can see Tottenham ending their winless run in this clash and getting back to their best in the near future.
Will Tottenham defeat West Ham on Saturday evening?
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