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Son Heung-Min has returned to Tottenham Hotspur in sensational form after his miserable exit from the Asian Cup, with two goals in two games evoking discussion over his candidacy for the player of the year award.
What’s the word?
Newcastle United proved to be typically stubborn opponents on Saturday lunchtime. Tottenham’s attacking endeavours were made in vain throughout proceedings, but the introduction of Fernando Llorente proved to be a decisive turning point in the game.
Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to unleash the Spaniard created a new dynamic in the final third and the Spaniard’s presence ultimately paved the way for Son to fire home a ferocious winner.
Llorente provided Son with the opportunity to strike from distance after knocking down a long ball into the South Korea international’s path, proving that the art of old-fashioned centre-forward play still has a place in Premier League football.
It was a timely reminder of the distinctive quality he can offer in attack, and Son was eager to pay tribute to his provider on Sunday, per ESPN.
“Fernando’s doing very well and everyone is ready because we work hard and believe in every single player. It doesn’t matter who plays.”
Llorente’s career in north London looked dead and buried when the transfer window opened for business in January, but events which have unfolded in 2019 have resurrected his career.
However, at 33 years of age, the Spaniard is going to have to do something special to convince Pochettino and Levy to offer him a new deal at the end of the season.
Dortmund could be key to his future at Spurs
Tottenham are well in the hunt for the title but the dominance of Man City and Liverpool suggest their best chance of claiming silverware may lie in Europe.
Next up for Spurs is a massive clash against Borussia Dortmund and, with the first leg set to take place at Wembley in less than ten days’ time, Llorente will be firmly in contention for a starting berth.
In a fixture of this magnitude the 33-year-old could have a dream opportunity to catapult his popularity amongst the supporters and simultaneously convince the club’s hierarchy to keep him in the summer.
According to a recent report from talkSPORT, Tottenham’s back-up centre-forward wants to extent his current deal with the club, which expires this summer.
A talismanic performance at the spearhead of the attack against Dortmund could represent the moment in which he convinces Pochettino to consider offering him a new deal – an agreement which would represent the culmination of a complete turnaround in his career.
Llorente has made significant steps towards completing a u-turn from probable departure to contract extension in the past two fixtures, and now he must finish the job by using his experience to stun Dortmund this month.
