Ange Postecoglou says there is “no doubt” Tottenham need reinforcements in attack in the coming transfer windows, but has played down the chances of January signing Min-hyeok Yang making a quick impact.
Postecoglou had just three fit, senior forwards available for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham but is hoping to welcome back Dominic Solanke for Thursday’s visit to Bournemouth.
Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are sidelined long-term with hamstring injuries, while Mikey Moore is still recovering from a virus which Postecoglou insists is “nothing serious” and “not long-term”.
Wide forward Yang, 18, is set to join up with the squad this month ahead of his January move from K league side Gangeon FC.
Asked if Spurs needed more firepower upfront Postecoglou said: “With Wilson it's long-term, hopefully Mikey by the turn of year will be back as well, but he's 17.
“With Richy it has been frustrating because I see the potential in him and to be fair when he's been fit he's always made an impact, for me anyway.
“I think back to the start of last year and when he came back into the team during the year he went on a scoring run.
“Even the little games he's played this year, he's made an impact. So, you know, that's what you kind of hold on to, but there's no doubt we need some bolstering in that front third over the next couple of transfer windows.
“Dom coming in has been great, but again we can't overload him either, because ultimately, you know, even if he stays fit and nothing happens, performance will invariably drop if his energy levels drop. So it's something we're aware of and need to plan for.”
Yang is set to start training with his new teammates later this month, subject to receiving a work permit, and will be available to feature from January.
But Postecoglou says he is “mindset” of expecting too much from the winger, and played down comparisons with Spurs’ other teenage talents, including Archie Gray.
“With Yang, 18-year-old coming from a totally different part of the world, different league and it's a massive step than, say, Archie doing it from Championship to Premier League, so we have to be mindful of what impact we expect from someone like that,” the Australian said.
“He hasn't arrived yet. He'll have some time off. Their league finishes and I haven't spoken to the guys lately but I know he is keen to get over here and we'll get him over here. I remember with Celtic, we signed a couple of lads from Japan and Korea and middle to late December they joined us and it was good leading into January for those guys.”
Gray, 18, is pushing for his first League start of the season against the Cherries and Postecoglou says the England Under-21 international is ahead of Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence, both of whom have also found their minutes limited in the top-flight this term.
“He’s done fantastically well for us,” Postecoglou said of Gray. “He’s separate from Lucas.
“Lucas and Djed are in a different position. With Lucas again, we need to make sure we allow him to develop without putting him in before we think he is ready, particularly for Premier League football.
“I think that's where the Europa League has been good for us because it's a different level of football in terms of the intensity and tempo. Lucas is working his way through that and has had a couple of cameos in the Premier League as well and like I said with Djed, it's kind of a different scenario.
“From us obviously, we can't lose sight of the fact they are still 18 and if people can show me evidence of 18-year-olds playing regularly, apart from some exceptions, and there is a reason for that because you want to allow them to grow into it.
“I have used Archie every time we've needed him and he'll definitely play significant game time for us this year, for sure.”
