Gary Neville delivers positive verdict on Tottenham record-signing Dominic Solanke
Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by newly promoted Leicester City in their 2024/25 Premier League season-opener on Monday night.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were on the front foot from the opening minutes, and after persistently knocking on the Foxes’ door, they took the lead through right-back Pedro Porro in the 29th minute. It was one-way traffic for the majority of the opening 45 minutes as Spurs probed the hosts and looked for the killer second goal.
However, Tottenham couldn’t capitalise on their dominance and were duly made to pay in the second half by Leicester City’s star striker Jamie Vardy, who scored a header just before the hour mark.
Regardless of the frustrating result in the Midlands, there were positives to take home for Tottenham and their record-signing, Dominic Solanke.
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Roped in from Bournemouth earlier this month, Dominic Solanke made his debut for Tottenham and completed the full 90 minutes at the King Power Stadium. While the 26-year-old missed some crucial chances, Manchester United legend Gary Neville remains optimistic about Solanke’s future under the watchful eyes of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
Speaking on Sky Sports (h/t BBC) after the game, Gary Neville expressed his confidence that Solanke’s overall performance when leading the Spurs attack was strong, in spite of not scoring in the game.
“I think he’ll feel like everything went as well as it could’ve done – expect the most important thing. I hope he doesn’t take it to heart too much [missing chances],” Neville said.
“This is a test for him. There will be moments. There were moments and big chances and he will be judged on moments like that. He needs to make sure he doesn’t beat himself up in the next few days.
“He probably should have had one or two, but he will get goals if he carries on doing that.”
Solanke is Spurs’ record signing and that is bound to bring pressure when leading the attack for one of the Premier League’s top clubs. The Lilywhites have invested a lot of money owing to his goalscoring exploits at Bournemouth last season, where he amassed 19 goals in 38 Premier League outings.
The ex-Liverpool man has joined Postecoglou’s forces amidst a lot of fanfare and the pressure was on him to make an instant impact. While his overall game play was solid against Steve Cooper’s side—as also acknowledged by Neville—Solanke faltered in the most crucial aspect, i.e. putting the ball in the back of the net.
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The 26-year-old’s movement, link up, hold-up play and pressing from the front was impressive, and he also tested the hosts’ goalkeeper Mads Hermansen several times. Eventually, he failed to score in an otherwise promising debut which Solanke should look to build on in the coming games.
Let’s hope Solanke is clinical in front of goal and breaks the duck for his new club on the coming weekend when Tottenham host Everton in the Premier League.
