Spurs’ 9/10 star could now be emulating Gareth Bale

In reality, neither Tottenham Hotspur nor Manchester United can be significantly overjoyed with how their dire Premier League seasons are at present taking part in out, with either side shockingly caught within the decrease depths of the desk.

However, come full-time on Sunday night, it was Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs who can be given a much-needed enhance because the topsy-turvy North Londoners bought the higher of Ruben Amorim’s dejected Pink Devils to win by a single objective.

James Maddison can be the hero when it mattered most for his inconsistent facet, with the return of the ex-Leicester Metropolis man from damage inspiring Spurs to shock back-to-back victories within the league.

Standout Spurs performers vs Man United

Maddison would obtain a present on his return from his close to four-week absence as Andre Onana’s poor goalkeeping offered the previous England worldwide with a easy tap-in in the course of the first 45 minutes.

Away from this simple strike, Maddison would additionally full one profitable dribble throughout his hour or so on the pitch, alongside profitable 4 duels to make sure his facet weren’t breached at any stage by an out-of-sorts United assault.

The 28-year-old’s long-awaited return from the therapy room wasn’t the one optimistic addition Postecoglou may name upon to his beginning XI, with common first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario additionally again in-between the sticks having recovered from his personal setbacks.

Having the Italian ‘keeper again within the internet was a saving grace for Spurs at factors, and confirmed how expensive Onana was within the opposition objective to present Maddison the opener, with Vicario making six huge saves to say a clear sheet.

It was an actual staff effort total that ensured the conventional grumbles that reverberate across the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had been changed with loud cheers, however there was one standout performer on the again who caught the attention by persevering with to rewrite his Spurs story.

The Spurs star who’s emulating Gareth Bale

After all, Gareth Bale nonetheless stays in a league of his personal on the subject of modern-day greats hailing from the white half of North London, with the Welshman changing into a blistering star within the left-back spot after some troubling beginnings on the membership.

Amazingly, Spurs would fail to register a single victory throughout Bale’s first 24 video games after a bumper £10m transfer from Southampton, along with his sketchy damage file on the time making it a close to believable actuality that he was bought on earlier than his prime at White Hart Lane.

The remainder is fortunately historical past now as Bale ended up etching himself into the hall-of-fame on the Premier League outfit, having gone on to amass 71 objectives and 53 assists from a complete of 237 Spurs clashes, usually when lining up as a gung-ho choice down the left flank.

Djed Spence may effectively be emulating Bale’s turnaround in fortunes, due to this fact, having as soon as been seen as an outcast himself on the top-flight membership – after enduring stints out on mortgage – solely now to be visibly reborn within the left-back space.

It was a top-drawer displaying from the 23-year-old down the left, with Spence displaying himself to be a nuisance when marauding ahead – very similar to Bale – by accumulating two profitable dribbles and one shot on the United internet, on prime of additionally being defensively stable with six duels gained alongside 4 blocked pictures and interceptions being tallied up.

18 of Spence’s 24 Spurs appearances have come this season, and following his present trajectory, he may very well be the membership’s subsequent iteration of Bale, with London Night Customary journalist Dan Kilpatrick even heralding the revitalised defender as “undroppable” after the match amidst a 9/10 post-match rating.

Spence will hope there are lots extra standout performances from him to return, as Postecoglou’s facet try now to string collectively a optimistic patch of type to stand up the league standings, away from Amorim’s battered and bruised outfit.