Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘ready-made replacement’ for the suspended Yves Bissouma against Fulham next Monday in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Spurs come out of the international break at home to the Cottagers hoping to continue their unbeaten start this season. Postecoglou has enjoyed a terrific opening to his tenure in north London, with Tottenham winning in six of their first eight Premier League games to the term.
Postecoglou has further seen his side score 18 goals to just eight conceded with Bissouma a critical cog for Tottenham. The 27-year-old is one of eight Spurs players to start all eight of their fixtures so far. But he will miss Monday’s match with Fulham after receiving a red card.
ttenham star Bissouma drew a mindless suspension at Luton
Bissouma drew two yellow cards in Tottenham’s final Premier League game before the break at Luton Town. The 29-cap Mali midfielder mindlessly tempted referee John Brooks to reach for his red card after diving while on a caution. He drew both yellows in just 11 minutes, too.
Brooks had initially cautioned Bissouma for hauling Chiedozie Ogbene down in the 38th. But the Tottenham anchor still attempted to con the official by diving on the edge of Luton’s box in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage-time. Spurs would dig in and won their match 1-0.
The initial yellow card would have ruled Bissouma out of Tottenham’s game with Fulham for reaching five for the campaign. But the red card supersedes his fifth yellow and he will again be one caution away from a ban upon the £35m former Brighton star’s return at Tottenham.
Postecoglou sees Hojbjerg as his ‘logical’ Bissouma replacement
Postecoglou believes Tottenham have a few options who could replace Bissouma at home to Fulham. But the Australian views Hojbjerg as his ‘logical’ choice to take over from the 5 ft 11 ace Chris Waddle calls ‘outstanding’. Even if he has rarely relied on the 28-year-old this term.
“We had to adjust without him at Luton, which I thought we did awfully well with 10 men,” Postecoglou said, via quotes by football.london. “We’ve got some options, certainly Pierre is a ready-made replacement. He’s been training really hard.
“He’s, obviously, probably wanted to be playing more because he’s pretty much been a constant for the last two, three years. But when he has come on for us, he’s done really well. For me, he’s the logical one to come in but we’ve got a couple of sessions to go.”
Hojbjerg will likely start in place of Bissouma against Fulham in his first Premier League start under Postecoglou at Tottenham. The Dane has only started in Spurs’ Carabao Cup defeat to the Cottagers under the Australian. He has played 122 minutes as a substitute in the league.
