Bissouma back but must work for 'redemption'

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Nizaar Kinsella
  • Role, 大象传媒 Sport football news reporter

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has explained how midfielder Yves Bissouma has reacted to being dropped and urged him to battle for "redemption".

The 27-year-old was left out of his club's 1-1 draw with Leicester City but returns to face Everton on Saturday after being caught taking laughing gas in a post on his social media account.

The club's official sanction has ended and Postecoglou has revealed Bissouma has initially reacted as he hoped - but says he has work to do, making it unlikely he will start in place of Rodrigo Bentancur, who is out of Saturday's match because of concussion.

"You know what it's like when you punish your child and they do everything right for the next two days? He's first in the meetings, he's doing everything right but there's always temptation down the road, so we鈥檒l see," Postecoglou said of Bissouma.

"I've always believed in opportunity for redemption and learning. We're still in that space at the moment with Biss. But obviously that door closes after a while if there's repeated (indiscretions).

"He's been good but I would have been surprised if he wasn't. It's always the key with Biss, is consistency. The consistency of behaviour, what he does... it's not that he's doing a lot of bad things.

"Obviously the last transgression was very serious but it's the little things along the way also. I think sometimes that manifests in his game where he's really good and he'll have a moment when he's not. I think it all correlates.

"From our perspective it's about trying to continually guide him. But it's up to him. He's got to continue to try to be the best version of himself that he can possibly be."

Dominic Solanke is also out with an ankle injury, which the Australian coach explained is not serious, adding: "It's not serious enough to keep him out for five weeks, he's still a chance for the Newcastle game [on 1 September].

"That's the extent of it, it's just about how quickly he recovers."