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Ange Postecoglou has condemned social media abuse aimed at footballers while backing Wales forward Brennan Johnson to thrive at Tottenham Hotspur.

Johnson reportedly deactivated his Instagram account because of criticism in the wake of his club’s derby defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Postecoglou says the 23-year-old, who has scored five Spurs goals since joining from Nottingham Forest last September, is “probably lacking a bit of confidence”.

But the Tottenham boss says it is “sad” that abuse on social media has become commonplace.

“I hate how we’ve just normalised all that stuff,” Postecoglou said.

“I’ve been around long enough and even when I was playing, I copped a fair bit. But it was usually on the terraces and then the game was over and you’d go home.

“You’re talking about a young guy who is probably lacking a bit of confidence at the moment. Things haven’t gone his way.

“But he comes here every day, he’s working his backside off, he’s asking for feedback, he’s doing everything right, he’s trying so hard to become the player he wants to be. It’s hurting him a lot.

“It’s not like he’s out on the town and he doesn’t care and he rolls up late. So what’s his crime? His crime is he isn’t performing at the level that people expect of him.”

Spurs paid in excess of £45m to sign Johnson after he shot to prominence at Forest, scoring 29 goals in 108 appearances for the City Ground club after coming through their academy.

But the Nottingham-born player has struggled for consistency since moving to north London.

He has so far made 38 Spurs appearances, including 26 Premier League starts.

Postecoglou says that dealing with criticism over performances “is part of growth” for a footballer.

But he added: “That getting abuse, and it is abuse and a lot of it personal, is oh well, that’s part of the territory. I don’t see that.

“If somebody is abusive to me, they’re going to hear it back. I’ll take criticism because that’s my role, and scrutiny, you have to because that’s your role, but I don’t have time for abuse.”

Postecoglou added that he feels sorry for young people that social media, and all that comes with it, is “part of their world”.

“The fact that they’ve got to limit their world, close their world a little bit because of… I mean what kind of person writes abusive things to an individual?” he added.

“Criticism is one thing, exasperation at a game, you accept that. To sit down and write something abusive anonymously… say it in front of me, you’ll get a punch on the nose, you won’t do it again, mate. But they won’t do that.”

Postecoglou, whose side are 13th in the early-season table, could include Johnson when Tottenham go to Coventry City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

“When I look at Brennan and I see a young man who is trying his hardest to be the best he can be,” he said.

“It doesn’t always guarantee success and it’s part of his journey how he deals with all this. But he’s a great kid, a great footballer and I’m very optimistic about what he’s going to do for us.”