Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke has recovered from his ankle problem and is available for selection against Arsenal
The September international break is finally over and Tottenham Hotspur can get back to business on a special derby occasion on Sunday.
On Sunday, the Lilywhites will have the opportunity to put their season back on track when they host arch-rivals Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Three vital points—as well as North London Derby bragging rights—will be up for grabs on Sunday.
Arsenal will be without Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, while skipper Martin Odegaard is a big doubt after picking up what appeared to be a significant injury during the recent international break. However, Tottenham also have had their fair share of injury problems in the opening weeks of the new campaign.
There is one player who former Premier League winner Alan Shearer has backed to make an impact for Spurs against Arsenal.
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Tottenham fans have not been able to see much of record-signing Dominic Solanke just yet with the striker having suffered an injury in the opening game of the season against newly promoted Leicester City. As a result, the striker missed the subsequent games against Everton and Newcastle United.
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Dominic Solanke has recovered from his ankle injury and is available for selection in the North London derby. Alan Shearer feels the one-cap England international won’t have a better opportunity than Sunday to score against Arsenal and endear himself to the Spurs fans.
“Hopefully Dominic Solanke is deemed fit for this one, because what a great way to introduce himself to the Tottenham fans if he could make the difference in his first derby game, to make a huge statement in a game of this size,” Shearer wrote in his column for the Metro while predicting the weekend’s Premier League games.
Big Ange’s men certainly missed Solanke at St James’ Park when they created a host of chances but had no presence in the box to finish them off. Eventually, they lost the game 2-1 to Newcastle before the first international break of the season.
Had Solanke have been up top, it may have been a different story on that afternoon. Nonetheless, the most important thing is the 27-year-old has overcome his ankle issue and is ready for his first taste of the North London derby. Whether Big Ange throws him at the deep end or eases him back from the bench, if Solanke can score a goal and help us win the bragging rights, he’ll quickly become a cult hero for the Spurs faithful.
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Sunday will be a big occasion and the English striker will be desperate to make a mark and break his Tottenham duck.
