Tottenham Hotspur welcome West Ham United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow, and manager Ange Postecoglou has received a timely boost with the return of two key players from injury.
Son Heung-min is back in contention after missing three games with a hamstring problem, while Richarlison has also recovered from a calf injury and could feature against the Hammers.
Both forwards returned to training this week, raising hopes that they can play pivotal roles in what promises to be a crucial London derby.
Postecoglou shared his optimism about Son’s recovery, saying:
“Yeah, Sonny is good. He’s worked hard these two weeks. He was obviously very disappointed to miss playing for his national team, but I think it’s been good for him these two weeks. He’s worked really hard, had a good solid training week, and yeah, he can’t wait to get back out there. He’s good to go.”
On Richarlison, the Spurs manager added: “He’s worked really hard and he’s looked really good. He’s had a good week of training and he has missed playing. He is a real infectious guy as well, so good to have him back with the group.”
Spurs Look to Bounce Back:
Tottenham head into the game eager to bounce back from an inconsistent start to the season. They currently sit ninth in the Premier League, and the returns of Son and Richarlison are seen as critical to reigniting their push for a top-four finish.
Spurs are eyeing Champions League qualification, and their attack will need to be firing on all cylinders to see off a determined West Ham side.
Despite their injury woes, Tottenham have shown flashes of quality. Notably, they secured a 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, even in Son’s absence.
However, his creativity and presence have been missed, and Postecoglou now faces the challenge of reintegrating both Son and Richarlison into the starting lineup effectively.
A Must-Win London Derby:
The upcoming clash carries extra significance following Tottenham’s disappointing 3-2 loss to Brighton, where they squandered a two-goal lead. Postecoglou stressed the importance of avoiding further slip-ups in critical fixtures if Spurs are to meet their season’s ambitions.
The return of Son and Richarlison will provide much-needed sharpness to Tottenham’s attack. However, it remains to be seen how quickly the duo can regain full match fitness.
All eyes will be on the pair to see if they can hit the ground running in this pivotal encounter. Their performances could make the difference in helping Spurs claim three vital points against their London rivals.