Dembele raring to go

The blow of losing Harry Kane can be cushioned somewhat with the return of Mousa Dembele and the big Belgian is confident he will quickly regain the form he showed for us last season after hugely frustrating opening to this campaign.

He is a key man for us however  ankle and hip problems restricted him to only five starts this season which has added to a similarly slow beginning to the 2016-17 campaign where he of course missed the first four league matches while serving a six-match ban for his part in the infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ against Chelsea.

Dembele was one of Tottenham’s most important players after suspension , forming an impressive partnership with Victor Wanyama in central midfield and with the Kenyan still absent with a knee injury, Dembele’s return to full fitness cannot have been timed better.

Dembele looked lively when he came on as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat by West Ham in the Carabao Cup, his first appearance in over a month.

The Belgian said he ‘felt good’ after coming on and Pochettino may call on him.

According to the London Evening Standard that despite the disappointing showing against West Ham, Dembele is impressed by Tottenham’s squad. He said: “During the past three years, we have been steadily getting better. We have a bigger squad with more competition for places and everyone is playing well, everyone can play.

“Even if we have four or five injuries, the other guys come in and perform, so we can rotate. That is why I think we are better than last year. The West Ham game was not good, but generally, we don’t give much away. The recent games have generally been very good. In terms of my own fitness, I am feeling much better.

He added: “First it was my ankle and then it was my hip, so I have had a bit of bad luck but I feel good. I started the season well, the injury slowed things down a bit but I will be back.”

So, with the news of Kane’s absence the lads are really going to have to step it up if we are to get anything from Old Trafford. If Dembele is to start then it’s likely that Eric Dier or Harry Winks will be stood down. Who do you think that might be? Or will Poch move Dier into the back three and drop out Sanchez? He’s got a tough decision to make

Related Topics