Ange Postecoglou has started Richarlison on the left in the past few Premier League games and the Brazilian has delivered a few tidy displays, even though he has got on the scoresheet just once so far this season.

Johnson has started just one game for Tottenham since his big-money move from Forest in the summer, with the pacy winger missing a couple of matches due to a hamstring problem.

The 22-year-old made an instant impact after replacing Richarlison on 64 minutes at Selhurst Park, setting up Son Heung-min for Tottenham’s second.

The Wales international headed a cross-field pass from Pedro Porro onto James Maddison’s path before continuing his run into the box receiving the ball and finding Son just a few yards in front of the goal.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Richarlison of Tottenham Hotspur and Joao Palhinha of Fulham FC during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Should Johnson replace Richarlison at Spurs?

Robertson believes that we will see Johnson coming into Postecogluo’s starting eleven soon and remarked that it would be difficult for Richarlison to get much game time, given that Tottenham have no European football this season.

The pundit said on The Game Football Podcast: “The only question mark is that Brennan Johnson will get into that starting XI soon, and I think Richarlison needs to do something. 

“There’s more competition, there’s no European football, they’re out of the first cup and they’d probably be happy to go out of the second cup if they keep up this form.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I have a feeling that Postecoglou would start with Ricaharlison once again for the clash against Chelsea and use Johnson as an impact substitute off the bench. 

The Brazilian has certainly not been terrible on the left. In fact, I thought he had quite a good game against Fulham and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

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It wasn’t easy, but Tottenham will go into the weekend with a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Ange Postecoglou‘s side dominated possession throughout, but were unable to turn that control of the ball into clear-cut chances in the same manner as they have so far this season.

The high press which has become a Spurs trademark was to thank for the first goal, as James Maddison pressured the Palace defenders into mistakes that ultimately led to a Joel Ward own goal.

Maddison then joined forces with Brennan Johnson, who came on as a substitute, with the pair weaving through the Palace back line to set up Heung-min Son for yet another goal for the Tottenham captain.

A late goal from Jordan Ayew piled on the pressure in injury time, but Spurs were able to hold on and grab all three points tonight.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammate Emerson (L) and Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur after scoring the team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on October 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Ange happy with his Tottenham subs vs Palace

While Brennan Johnson arguably had the biggest impact of all the players to come off the bench tonight, Postecoglou has also recognised Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s influence on the game, with the pair replacing Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma, respectively.

In his post-match press conference (via Football.London), Postecoglou said: “Brennan was great. He’s had to be patient as he’s had a couple of setbacks obviously so we haven’t really seen him in any consistent game time or training time but the last couple of weeks he’s worked hard at training.

“I thought all the subs who came on… I thought Pierre helped us get control of midfield, I thought Emerson at left-back was outstanding. Those kinds of things are helping us at the moment, the guys coming on and helping us see out games.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Brennan Johnson should be delighted with his performance today. I thought he came on and really wanted to make things happen, and his hard work paid off with an assist.

Emerson was brilliant in a position he doesn’t normally play, and put in a really good shift. And Hojbjerg was his usual, sturdy self, and is proving to be a player we can really depend on to manage the game.

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Many of Tottenham’s first-team players are returning from international duty in the coming hours, and Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to avoid any unwanted knocks.

One man who stayed behind at Hotspur Way over the past week is new signing, Brennan Johnson, who went without a Wales call-up due to an injury he picked up for Spurs.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur in action with Benjamin White of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Brennan Johnson could return for Spurs vs Fulham

Tottenham are now said to be hopeful that Johnson will feature against Fulham, although it is not revealed whether this could be from the start or the bench.

Either way, it appears that week in the treatment room has done the former Nottingham Forest forward some good, especially since Spurs are already without Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon.

Spurs Web Opinion:

Postecoglou clearly wanted Johnson in the summer, so I am really interested to see what his role will be once he gets back to full fitness.

Having some youth in the front line to press for 90 minutes will certainly do the Spurs squad some good, and competition for places is never a bad thing.

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Brennan Johnson has been out with a hamstring problem since the North London derby, with the pacy winger missing the wins over Liverpool and Luton Town.

The versatile attacker was not part of the Wales squad during the international break but The  Standard reveals that there is some hope of the 22-year-old being fit for the clash against the Cottagers.

However, the report explains that there is still some doubt over Johnson’s involvement and he is not guaranteed to feature on Monday.

ENFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 10, 2022 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Rodrigo Bentancur should be back in a month

There is some good news regarding Rodrigo Bentancur, who continues to step up his recovery and looks on course to return to action in November,

The outlet reveals that another long-term absentee, Ryan Sessegnon, could also be back in action next month, with the left-back set to be gradually introduced to the squad over the coming weeks.

Manor Solomon is not expected to be fit until the end of the year while Ivan Perisic remains out with an ACL injury.

Spurs Web Opinion

It appears like all of Tottenham’s international stars have come through unscathed through this round of fixtures but we cannot be sure about that until they all report back to Hotspur Way.

The one advantage this time around is the fact that we do not play until Monday, which should give those players a couple of extra days to recover.

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The relatively little-known Aussie is drawing plaudits from pundits and fans alike for the way he sets out his teams, his refreshing personality and his clear will to win.

His wider recognition has led to two Premier League Manager of the Month awards for his first two months in the job, the first time a manager in the league has ever achieved this.

The signings Postecoglou has made so far during his tenure in the Tottenham dugout, on paper to the average Spurs fan, looked promising but no one could have predicted the immediate impact that some of them have made.

Part of his philosophy is to develop young players, both signing them himself and from the youth system, and that is evident upon viewing a list of his additions.

Including future acquisitions and players agreeing to join at a later date, a total of ten new signings were brought in during Postecoglou’s first transfer window, and those signings will all be graded out of 10…

Rating Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham signings

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Pedro Porro – Loan deal made permanent from Sporting, reported £39m

Having had a shaky start to life in N17, with his full debut coming in that 4-1 defeat to Leicester City in February, Pedro Porro has firmly established himself as one of the league’s best right-backs.

This was evident during his commanding display against Liverpool, where not only did his late driven cross find the back of the net off the foot of the unfortunate Joel Matip, but his defensive awareness and strong tackling ensured a quiet day at the office for Mo Salah, and firmly put to bed any doubts about his defensive abilities.

He looks to have come into his own under Postecoglou, freed from the shackles of Antonio Conte’s back five for his opening two months at Tottenham, and, at 24 years of age, is likely to only improve from here. 7.5/10

Dejan Kulusevski, loan move from Juventus made permanent, reported £25m

It seems that Dejan Kulusevski has been at Tottenham for ages, even though he is technically a new signing, the former Juventus man joining in January 2022 on an initial 18-month loan, with Postecoglou triggering the option to buy the Swedish international over the summer.

Another player who looks to have come under life under a new manager, Kulusevski is quickly putting a disappointing 2022/23 behind him, and our own “ginger from Sweden” is proving undroppable and unstoppable once again on the wing.

The scorer of the winning goal against Sheffield United already this term, completing the latest comeback in Premier League history, ‘Deki’’s work rate and endless determination has won the Spurs fans over again, after a fairly turbulent previous season on a personal level. 7.5/10

Guglielmo Vicario, from Empoli, reported £16m

The first ‘proper’ new signing for the season, it has been a fine start to life in N17 for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Despite some quite unstable performances in pre-season, his shot-stopping prowess is already proving a hit with the Spurs faithful and justifying every penny that Spurs paid for him.

It is a testament to the impact of Vicario that his former side, Empoli, comfortably mid-table in the Italian Serie A last season, are struggling in the relegation zone this year without their shot-stopper.

Overall, it’s fair to say that Vicario is becoming more and more comfortable with life in England with every passing week, proving he is not just a ‘cheaper David Raya’. 8/10

James Maddison, from Leicester City, reported £40m

The first true ‘statement’ signing of the Postecoglou era, and James Maddison has exceeded expectations.

A star man of the Leicester team for so long, Spurs beat numerous other clubs, including Newcastle, to his signature when the Foxes were relegated at the end of last season, and his impact on and off the pitch has been sensational, having been appointed vice-captain before a ball was even kicked this season.

Currently, the top provider of assists in the Premier League with five, and with two goals to his name, Maddison’s Spurs career has got off to a flying start, earning him a recall to the England squad, and a well-deserved Premier League Player of the Month award for August.

If he can stay fit all season, who knows how far he can help take this young, hungry Spurs team? 9.5/10

Manor Solomon, free transfer

Eyebrows were raised when Manor Solomon was brought in on a free transfer, upon the expiration of his contract at Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, the former Fulham man has proven himself to be a capable winger when called upon, as was evident with his two assists on his first start for Spurs in the 5-2 win at Burnley.

Unfortunately out for a few months due to an injury suffered in training, and subsequent operation, Solomon will look to hit the ground running when he returns, and prove himself to be the exciting winger that Ange Postecoglou is looking for. 6/10

Ashley Phillips, from Blackburn Rovers, £2m

It almost seems unfair that a grade has to be given for an 18-year-old centre back, signed from the Championship, with no first-team appearances yet for Spurs.

However, Ashley Phillips has proven a commanding presence at centre-back for the youth team, and has nine caps for England’s Under 19 team.

A composed centre-back, comfortable with the ball at his feet, and with first-team experience having made eight appearances in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers, Phillips is undoubtedly one to watch for the future. 5/10

Micky van de Ven, from Wolfsburg, reported £30m

The transfer saga that seemed to last a lifetime finally ended with Spurs getting their man, and what a signing Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven has turned out to be.

A string of sensational performances at the back alongside Cristian Romero, culminating in his first goal in Lilywhite away to Luton Town, it is clear that van de Ven is the authoritative centre-back that Tottenham so desperately desired to form a rock-solid partnership with Romero.

Being just 22 years old, van de Ven will surely have a long and successful career in North London and with the Dutch national team, who, amazingly, he is still without a cap for – only a matter of time surely. 9/10

Alejo Veliz, from Rosario Central, reported £13m

Again, it does not seem fair that a grade has to be provided for Alejo Veliz, with the young Argentine striker having played just ten minutes of Premier League football so far this season.

Moreover, he was on the pitch as the winning goal was scored against Liverpool, so it could be said that he already has a winning mentality…

An exciting signing from his native Argentina, the 20-year-old has bags of potential and, as he progresses, will surely be looking to knock on the door of the starting XI before long. 6.5/10

Brennan Johnson, from Nottingham Forest, reported £45m

Another young player with raw potential, Brennan Johnson was signed on Deadline Day from Nottingham Forest to provide competition in forward areas – however picked up a knock during the North London Derby and has not played since.

An unquestionably lively player, epitomised by the fact he scored immediately after coming on as a substitute against Sheffield United, though it was disallowed for offside, Johnson has a hunger and desire when he plays and, in the long run, will be an ideal option for Postecoglou. 7/10

Luka Vuskovic, from Hajduk Split, reported £9.5m

The only player to not pull on the Tottenham shirt for a match yet, unable to join the club until 2025, Luka Vuskovic is a highly-rated Croatian central defender, and Spurs, who are no strangers to welcoming Croatian talent, beat competition from other elite European clubs to sign him.

Provided that Ange Postecoglou stays to welcome him to the club, and therefore aids his development so that he becomes a starting centre-back, we look to have a real player on our hands. One to watch for sure. 6/10

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Ange Postecoglou’s side signed Johnson from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5m deal on the final day of the summer transfer window with the Welsh international having penned a six-year deal with the Premier League table toppers (Guardian).

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Everton were keen to sign Brennan Johnson before Spurs move

The report claims that Johnson, along with Mohammed Kudus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolas Jackson have all been high up on the shopping list of the Everton hierarchy, however, issues with finances have been one of the reasons why they have failed to land their targets.

Johnson limped off against Arsenal in the North London derby and missed the subsequent victories over Liverpool and Luton Town, while also not being called up to the Wales squad for their international fixtures.

SpursWeb Opinion

Tottenham fans will be hoping that Johnson can put his hamstring issues behind him and return to fitness for the trip to Fulham following the international break.   

Injuries to both Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic who both face lengthy spells on the sidelines represent an opportunity for the 22-year-old to look to force his way into Ange Postecoglou’s starting eleven.

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One thing Spurs have not struggled with so far this season is attacking. The Lilywhites have been playing fantastic football this term, and are one of the top-scorers in the division.

Ange Postecoglou has implemented his style of play very quickly since arriving in North London, and Ange-ball has helped Spurs climb to the top of the table after an unbeaten start to the new campaign.

The Tottenham squad may be flying right now, but there are some concerns over the amount, and extent, of injured players within the side.

A report from the Evening Standard revealed Brennan Johnson is out until after the international break, while fellow winger Manor Solomon could be out until the end of this year.

Worse yet, is the situation surrounding Ivan Perisic. The veteran star has been hit with an ACL injury and is likely to miss the whole season.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur may move for Jota

With this in mind, the latest update from CaughtOffside suggests Spurs will look to sign a new left-sided winger in January. And, it seems Jota will be the target.

The former Celtic man, previously signed by Postecoglou during his time in Scotland, has been “sidelined” by Saudi side Al-Ittihad despite only joining the club in the summer.

Postecoglou’s “main priority” will be to “bolster the left flank” and there is thought to be “a potential transfer” in the pipeline for Jota come January.

Spurs Web Opinion

I’m not so sure we would need to sign a new winger in January. Solomon should be back by the end of the year, and Bryan Gil has just returned from his injury, too. I’d rather see us sign a new centre-back, personally. 

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Things are going pretty well for Tottenham right now. With six wins and two draws from the opening eight games of this campaign, the Lilywhites head into the international break at the top of the Premier League.

At present, Spurs are thriving thanks to the attacking talent of Heung-min Son and James Maddison, while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are forming a solid partnership in defence.

However, there is always the fear that an injury to any of these key players could derail the squad’s momentum.

Indeed, Spurs are already having to deal with a number of long-term injuries to a handful of first-team players which has left the squad looking a little thin.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

When will the injured Spurs players be back?

A piece in the Evening Standard offers an insight into when these injured players will be back to fitness and available for selection.

The one big injury still carrying over from last season is the ACL issue for Rodrigo Bentancur. Fans can’t wait to see the Uruguay international doing his thing under Ange Postecoglou, but the club are not rushing him and his return date is still scheduled for November of this year.

There is good news on Brennan Johnson, however. The new signing is out with a hamstring injury at the moment and will miss international duty with Wales, but he is almost certain to return on October 23, for the game against Fulham.

Fellow new signing, Manor Solomon, suffered a knee injury recently and has undergone surgery. There is currently “no exact timeframe” on his recovery, but he is “unlikely to play a major role” before the end of 2023, with a December return predicted. 

If you thought that was bad, spare a thought for Ivan Perisic. With a complex ACL injury, it is suspected the Croatian may have “potentially played his final game for the club,” with a return to fitness not expected until summer 2024, when his contract expires.

Similarly to Bentancur, Ryan Sessegnon has been out of action since February, and is expected to return next month. He has been taking part in individual training sessions, but any involvement in wider first-team sessions is “not imminent.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Once we get Brennan Johnson back, this injury list will feel a lot more manageable, and then hopefully there won’t be too long to wait until Bentancur and Sessegnon return. We just have to pray we don’t get any more injuries in the meantime.

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Johnson has only started one game for Spurs since his summer switch from Nottingham Forest – the 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

The 22-year-old came off with a tight hamstring in the second half of that clash and has not featured since, with reports indicating that some at Tottenham are hopeful that he could be available for the clash against Fulham on October 23 (The Athletic).

The pacy youngster has not been picked in the Welsh squad for their upcoming friendly against Gibraltar on October 11 and their Euro qualifiers against Croatia on October 15.

(Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Wales will not take any risks with Brennan Johnson

Being without their key attacker for the clash against the Croats comes as a major blow to the Dragons’ chances but Page remarked that Johnson’s health had to take precedence over everything else.

When asked about his decision to leave out the former Forest star, the Wales boss told The Daily Mail: “The communication between us and Tottenham has been first-class. It’s about having mutual respect. Both managers want a talented player fit so it’s about working together.

“I’m not going to insist that he has to come away and we’re going to play him, jeopardise his safety and health. I wouldn’t do that. But they also understand the importance of our games. We’ve had great conversations with them, but ultimately his injury will dictate whether he can meet up or not.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It is refreshing to hear the manager put the player’s health first instead of risking him in a crucial game. This is in stark contrast to Lionel Scaloni, who has called up Giovani Lo Celso to the Argentine squad even though the midfielder has not kicked a ball in a month and a half.

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Tottenham fans have not been able to see much of their latest signing since Brennan Johnson arrived in North London on transfer deadline day from Nottingham Forest.

The winger was handed his debut by Ange Postecoglou in a brief substitute appearance for the win over Sheffield United last month.

After a lively cameo there, Johnson got his full debut in the North London derby. However, he lasted just over an hour of that game before pulling up with a hamstring issue.

Johnson was unavailable for the recent win over Liverpool, with Richarlison replacing him on the left side of the Spurs attack. The 22-year-old is also set to miss the upcoming clash with Luton Town on Saturday (The Athletic).

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Brennan Johnson to return against Fulham

Now, the latest update on Johnson’s situation comes from the Evening Standard, who claim the Welshman will be ready to return to action after the international break.

It is thought Johnson is “targeting a comeback” for the Premier League fixture against Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 23.

Johnson has not been selected for the Wales squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Armenia.

His return later this month is expected to be a “major boost” for Spurs, who are now looking likely to be without fellow new signing, Manor Solomon, for the next two months after the Israeli attacker suffered a knee injury.

Spurs Web Opinion

Losing either one of Johnson or Solomon would be a blow, but having both injured leaves us with very few options in attack. Our bench is already fairly weak, and without these two players, we are barely going to have anyone we can turn to in order to change a game.

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In a deadline day move, Spurs spent £47.5m on Nottingham Forest hero Brennan Johnson in an attempt to bolster Ange Postecoglou‘s front line.

Postecoglou wasted no time in throwing the young Welshman into his team, either. Despite competition from the likes of Richarlison and Manor Solomon, Johnson was given the nod to start the North London derby last month after a lively cameo appearance against Sheffield United.

Johnson lasted just over an hour of the game against Arsenal, however, before being taken off due to a hamstring issue.

The winger missed the win over Liverpool last weekend entirely, but Spurs fans will be keen to see more of their latest acquisition as soon as possible.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur in action with Benjamin White of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Brennan Johnson ruled out of the Luton game

However, they may have to wait a little longer, sadly. According to the latest from The Athletic, Johnson will not be available for selection for the game against Luton Town on Saturday. 

It had been touch and go as to whether Johnson would be fit for the game, but it has now been confirmed that the hamstring concern will rule him out of the visit to the newly promoted side.

There are no details regarding when exactly Johnson will be back, but it appears likely that we will have to wait until after the international break to see the attacker back in action.

Spurs Web Opinion

It’s a real shame that Johnson has had this setback, and especially that he is missing this Luton game as he will have fancied his chances of getting off the mark there. Hopefully, he can recover for the Fulham game at the end of the month.

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Tottenham chose not to replace their record goalscorer, Harry Kane, with an out-and-out number nine in the summer, signing the versatile Johnson instead on transfer deadline day.

That decision did not sit well with some Spurs fans but the Lilywhites have not had any issues finding the back of the net so far this season, having scored 17 times in their first seven league games of the season.

Son Heung-min has thrived since moving into a central role, having scored six goals in the four games he has played in that position while Richarlison has also come to the party over the last couple of weeks, with a goal and two assists in his last three outings.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Harry Kane (L) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with team mates after scoring the team first goal of the game from the penalty spo during the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Shakhtar Donetsk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 06, 2023 in England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Tottenham are pleased with Brennan Johnson so far

Romano has explained that Ange Postecoglou and the Tottenham hierarchy could not find the type of striker they wanted this summer, which is why they decided to go a different route and sign Johnson.

The journalist said on The Debrief: “I think what they need this summer is a very clear strategy, they were not in panic when deciding to sell Harry Kane to Bayern Munich. 

“It was a complicated decision and Daniel Levy tried in every way to keep him, but it was impossible. What they decided to do together with the manager, and that’s the important point, together with the manager, they went for a different strategy.

 “If there was no proper number nine on the market, their best idea was to go for a different kind of player, which they did by signing Brennan Johnson. 

“I can tell you, they are very happy with the squad they have, very happy with the impact of Brennan Johnson, he had a small injury, but in general he has been doing very well in training sessions, and they’re sure they signed an important player for the present and future.”

Spurs Web Opinion 

It is a huge positive that we are playing so well even though we are yet to see the best of Johnson in a Spurs shirt. When the Welshman settles at the club and starts performing, it will be another big boost to Postecoglou as he offers a different kind of threat with his pace and directness.

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Johnson made his debut for Tottenham in the North London Derby two weeks ago but the pacy wide-man was withdrawn midway into the second half with an injury.

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold stated last week that the Welshman had suffered a tight hamstring at the Emirates and is not expected to be out of action for long.

In fact, the journalist even claimed that the 22-year-old had trained outdoors on the grass last week leading up to the clash against Liverpool.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Wales and Tottenham taking no chances on Johnson

However, Johnson was not fit enough to even make the bench against the Reds on Saturday, with Ange Postecoglou not providing much clarity on his injury.

It has now emerged that Wales manager Rob Page has left the youngster out of the squad for the Dragons’ upcoming clashes against Gibraltar and Croatia on October 11 and October 15 respectively.

Spurs Web Opinion

If Johnson is not included in the Wales squad, that means that is not going to be fit to play any part in the clash against Luton on Saturday. It seems like the 22-year-old’s hamstring problem might be a little more serious than it initially seemed. 

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Spurs signed the 22-year-old from Nottingham Forest for £47.5 million in the summer transfer window on deadline day, but the North London side have not seen the full extent of his talent yet.

While the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, who are playing their debut seasons with the Lilywhites, have taken almost no time to cement their place in Ange Postecoglou’s plans, Johnson has not had adequate opportunities or game time yet.

The Wales international has only made two appearances so far for the North London side and picked up a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Brennan Johnson of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 16, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Could it be Spurs vs Wales in Johnson tug of war?

However, speaking on his podcast, Gold feels Johnson might have a decision to make in the coming days as Wales could opt to call him up for the Euro Qualifiers this month.

Gold said: “[Brennan] Johnson, I wonder if they’re going to have a bit of a club vs. country thing here because they’ve got to really decide whether they want him back in time.

“He had a hamstring strain and it’s whether he’s back in time to play this game [against Luton] and if he’s not, Wales have got a couple of big games haven’t they coming up?

“So, they’re really going to want him involved when the best probable thing for him would be to rest up and not have any potential hamstring issues.”

Wales only have one competitive fixture against Croatia and a loss could be detrimental for them in their quest to qualify for the Euros in Germany next year. Rob Page’s team will also take on Gibraltar in a friendly.

Tottenham will take on Luton Town this weekend before returning to action on 23 October against Fulham. Whether Johnson will be fit enough to play for Spurs before the international break remains to be seen.

Spurs Web Opinion

While Ange Postecoglou has Son Heung-min firing, the Liverpool game showcased that the team needed more quality up front when the South Korean was substituted. Therefore, Ange Postecoglou will seemingly hope that Johnson will be excluded from the Wales squad to rest and recuperate.

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Gil has been out since the start of pre-season but Gold stated that the winger is expected to be available for selection immediately after stepping up his recovery.

The journalist confirmed what had been reported already about James Maddison, stating that Spurs are confident he will be fit to play against Liverpool.

He also added that Brennan Johnson has been training on the grass this week after coming off with a tight hamstring against Arsenal, with the 22-year-old said to have been closely monitored by the club this week.

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Tottenham are trying to get their players back soon

Gold explains that Rodrigo Bentancur has now been ‘gradually increasing’ his involvement in first-team training sessions and hopes to be back in action before November.

He also provided some positive news on Ryan Sessegnon’s injury, revealing that the 23-year-old has now resumed some light training following his hamstring surgery and could be back in action in a ‘few weeks’.

However, Gold does not provide much clarity on Giovani Lo Celso’s recovery, simply stating that the Argentine is hoping to be involved ‘sooner rather than later’.

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It sounds like Maddison is expected to start against Liverpool tomorrow while Gil might make the bench for the first time this season.

I would be surprised if Postecoglou risks Johnson, particularly given that he has Solomon at his disposal. The Israeli international might quite enjoy coming up against Trent Alexander-Arnold in one vs one situations.

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There were plenty of positives to take from the clash at the Emirates for Spurs, with Ange Posteocglou’s men showing plenty of character to come back twice and emerge with a deserved point.

However, the one negative is the injury concerns to Johnson and Maddison, who were both substituted in the second half.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

James Maddison to have a scan on his knee

Gold has now explained that Johnson was suffering from a tight hamstring and came off as a precaution in the 62nd minute as he did not want to worsen the problem.

The journalist explained that the 22-year-old is currently playing catchup on his fitness this season after picking up an ankle injury during the summer.

Gold also had some positive news regarding Maddison, stating that the midfielder was moving normally after the game when he undertook his media duties.

He added that the England international’s initial feeling about his knee is ‘positive’ but he is expected to have a scan to ensure that everything is okay.

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The fact that Maddison continued playing for around 10 minutes after initially going down with an injury, suggests that it is nothing serious and that the 26-year-old should be fully fit in time for the big clash against Liverpool next Saturday.

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Naturally, the North London derby today was a full-blooded game with plenty of energy, aggression, and tough tackles. For Tottenham, both Brennan Johnson and James Maddison spent some time on the ground, though neither were due to dangerous challenges.

Spurs fans saw new signing Johnson forced off the field in the second half with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.

Later, James Maddison, who picked up two assists today, was assessed by the Tottenham physio but managed to play on before being replaced by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg late on.

The Lilywhites took a point away from the Emirates Stadium today to retain their unbeaten league record. They will be hoping that’s all they take away, too, and that their players can stay fit for the next run of games.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Postecoglou unsure on the fitness of Johnson

It may be too soon to tell just how serious the injuries for the Spurs pair are at this stage, as Ange Postecoglou gave as much of an update as he could to the press (via Football.London) after the game.

When asked about the issues, he said: “I’m not sure with Brennan, he felt his hamstring. Madders wasn’t 100 per cent going into the game but he got through it fine.”

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The fact Maddison was able to play on is hopefully a sign that he will not have picked up anything too serious. For Brennan Johnson, pulling up without any contact and holding his hamstring, that’s never usually a good thing, and I really hope it isn’t anything that will keep him out too long as he has looked bright in his early Spurs career.

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Ange Postecoglou’s side head into the break currently level at 1-1 after Heung-min Son’s effort cancelled out Cristian Romero’s own-goal.

Guglielmo Vicario: Made a great instinctive save to deny Jesus and pushed the ball to safety.  Did well to save with his feet to rescue Udogie’s dodgy back pass. 6.

Pedro Porro: Played a brilliant cross across the six-yard box but there was no Spurs player who could get onto the end of it. 6.

Cristian Romero: Really unlucky with the own goal, stuck out a leg and saw the ball go into his own net. 6.

Micky van de Ven: Made a good sliding tackle early on after a loose pass from Vicario.  His headed clearance denied Arsenal what looked to be a second on the half hour. Has looked the most assured out of all of Tottenham’s defenders. 7.

Destiny Udogie: Has had a battle on his hands up against Saka.  Booked after fourteen minutes and nearly cost his side a goal seconds later when his loose back pass gifted Arsenal a shooting opportunity.  Needs help with the threat of Saka. 6.

Pape Matar Sarr: Had a glimpse of goal and blasted it over.  Has looked nervous in possession on a couple of occasions. Booked in added time. 5.

Yves Bissouma: Has not been able to play his usual game with Arsenal dominating the middle of the park which has seen him camped deep in his own half. Also booked. 5.

James Maddison: A lot of his work has been in deep positions with Arsenal having been mostly campad in the Spurs half for large chunks.  Got caught napping on the ball from a Vicario pass which should have been punished by Jesus. Did brilliantly well to keep the ball in play and square it back to Son for the goal. 6.

(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Dejan Kulusevski: Has had plenty of touches but has been unable to threaten aside from a nice reverse pass into Son.  Was dispossessed by Zinchenko in the build-up to Arsenal’s opener. 6.

Heung-min Son: Had an early goal chalked off for being a few yards offside.  Teed up Johnson for what looked to be a goal.  Popped up when it mattered to get in between to Arsenal players to squeeze the ball into the far corner. 6.

Brennan Johnson: Making his first Premier League start for Spurs.  Had his first sight of goal in the opening couple of minutes.   Somewhat strangely he is not being asked to track back and help out with defensve duties when Saka has the ball.  Thought he had levelled the score, only for Raya’s remarkable save.  6.

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The scenes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Kulusevski’s shot hit the back of the net were unlike anything we have seen at the venue since its opening in 2019.

The south stand was rocking behind the goal and the stadium was as loud it has it had ever been, with the 62,000 fans in absolute ecstacy.

(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Most of Tottenham’s substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate wildly while Guglielmo Vicario sprinted the length of the pitch in a matter of just seconds.

It was certainly a memorable start to Johnson’s Spurs career, with the winger having come on for his debut in the 80th minute.

Brennan Johnson definitely enjoyed his Spurs debut

The 22-year-old must have felt that it was not his day when he had a goal ruled out for offside in the 87th minute, and he admitted that it was special to be involved in such a dramatic finish in his first outing for the club.

Johnson told Spurs Play about the moment Kulusevsk’s shot hit the net: “It was crazy. I didn’t know who to run up to, to be honest. I saw Deki run off, Richy run off, I was caught in the moment, but those are the moments you dream of.

“To be involved in something like that in my first game only means there are good things to come.”

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The pictures immediately after Kulusevski’s strike tell the whole story, with none of the players knowing what to do, with the scenes being not too dissimilar to the late comeback against Leicester a couple of seasons ago and the infamous moment against Ajax in the Champions League semifinal.

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Johnson trained with his new Tottenham teammates for the first time last week after having to head on international duty straight after signing for the club on transfer deadline day.

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The 22-year-old started on the bench against Sheffield United and came on for his debut in the 80th minute, replacing captain Son Heung-min as the home side were throwing bodies forward in search of an equaliser.

Johnson thought he had scored his first goal for the Lilywhites just moments after coming on as he took down Yves Bissouma’s long ball over the top of the Blades’ backline with a brilliant first touch before smashing it into the back of the net, but the goal was chalked off due to offside.

However, Tottenham did have the last laugh as they produced a dramatic late turnaround, with Ricahrlison and Dejan Kulusevski scoring in the dying moments of the game to give the home side all three points.

Brennan Johnson is already a Tottenham baller

Johnson took to Instagram after the game to express his delight at making his Spurs debut, with Udogie commenting ‘baller’ on the post.

The likes of Micky van de Ven, Emerson Royal, Manor Solomon and Pedro Porro also commented on the former Forest star’s post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brennan (@brenjohnson_)

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There is no doubt that the team spirit and the togetherness in the current Tottenham squad is much higher than in previous seasons, as evidenced by the way the players are getting behind the new signings. That undoubtedly has to do with the different dressing room dynamics at the moment under the new leadership group.

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