Tottenham ‘close’ to getting key attacker back in the lineup: Could be perfect cure for Spurs’ ills

It’s no coincidence that Tottenham have struggled without Dele Alli on the pitch. Fortunately, he’s close to a comeback for Spurs.

Tottenham’s three-match losing streak understandably has Spurs fans in a panic. Fortunately, help is on the way for Mauricio Pochettino. Dele Alli may be back on the pitch for his club as soon as this Saturday’s match at Brighton.

This weekend might be a little too soon for the precocious Englishman’s return, but don’t expect him to miss many matches beyond that date. He’s certainly anxious to return to the pitch. Dele might the club’s second most important player behind Harry Kane.

That’s why Ben Dinnery’s report that Dele should be “close” to returning this weekend is such welcome news for the club. He’s one of the most ruthless finishers at Pochettino’s disposal. Dele is exactly the sort of player who could have killed off the match at Inter with a second goal.

His importance for Tottenham is only heightened given the fatigue issues facing the club’s two primary strikers. Kane has looked like a shell of his former self to start this campaign. It’s obvious to anyone paying attention that his World Cup run has caught up with him. Tottenham will need to rest him sooner, rather than later.

Son Heung-Min is capable of filling in for Kane when he’s at his best, but the Korean’s run for his nation during the Asian games has him looking off the pace as well. That could force Pochettino to hand Fernando Llorente a start up top. Cleary, that will place additional pressure on the rest of the Spurs attack to create chances.

Having Dele back in the lineup would make Pochettino’s attack much more difficult to stop. Obviously, he’s a quality finisher. The number of goals he’s able to get from the attacking midfield is proof of that. That’s not all he has in his locker though.

The best thing about Dele’s impact on the Tottenham attack is his ability to create space for others. Time and time again, his runs from the midfield cause opposing defenders to leave other players to prevent him from breaking through on goal. There’s no debate his work helps Kane find sufficient room to operate. The same can be said for Tottenham’s wide attackers.

Dele might not make it back in time to start at Brighton on Saturday, but his return will be a welcome sight for Spurs fans anxious to turn things around. It’s impossible to overstate his importance to Pochettino’s squad.