Dier returns
Eric Dier is now back at Hotspur Way following his summer break. A big few months for the player as there are question marks over his future as he is now in the final year of his Spurs contract, the England international will be determined to make his mark under Ange Postecoglou.
Not one of the squad back at the club's Enfield base for the first day of training under the Australian last Saturday, the defender was expected to return on Monday as he followed the schedule laid out for him after his groin surgery towards the end of last campaign. The ex-Sporting CP man could be seen putting in the work in the gym but he didn't appear to be on the training field when the rest of his teammates were involved in small-sided games after warming up.
Postecoglou watches on
Those already back in training have an early opportunity to catch Postecoglou's eye as he gets his plans in place for the new season. The 57-year-old was casting an eye over the session at Hotspur Way and taking a closer look at the players at his disposal and analysing everything that went on.
The players won't have been the only ones he was watching, though, as he will also have been keeping close tabs on his coaching staff. Now working alongside Chris Davies, Ryan Mason, Matt Wells and Mile Jedinak, as well as goalkeeping coach Rob Burch, Postecoglou briefs his coaching team on what exactly he wants them to get across and then lets them get to work in relaying it to the players.
His training methods have worked to perfection in the past with his teams going on to win silverware and the hope will be that the same happens in north London.
READ MORE: Micky van de Ven has given Ange Postecoglou five reasons to complete £26m Tottenham transfer
Emerson assists
The switch to a back four could very well play into Emerson Royal's hands next season after playing in the role for the vast majority of his career. Not entirely comfortable in his time at right wing-back as he is a right-back by trade, that was clear to see when he attacked at times but he has come on in leaps and bounds since playing there for the first time after Antonio Conte's appointment in November 2021.
One of the most notable things from the latest training video uploaded to SPURSPLAY was Emerson's pinpoint cross that Harvey White headed home in style during the small-sided game. A move that was started by Tanguy Ndombele using his strength and working some space with some impressive footwork, Emerson received the ball from Dane Scarlett before whipping in an exquisite cross to the back post that White headed across goal to leave Hugo Lloris with no chance.
As good as the cross was from Emerson, it must also be said how impressive the header was from White as he confidently found the far corner.
Emerson gatecrashes winning photo
As is usually the case after a Tottenham training session that involves a game, the winning team are always photographed. It was the players wearing the bibs who prevailed this time, with Lloris, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Yago Santiago, Alfie Devine, Pedro Porro, Nile John, Sergio Reguilon and Yves Bissouma making up the team.
Emerson tried to get in on the act and gatecrash the photo but a few of the players weren't having it at all as senior assistant coach Davies looked on with a big smile on his face. Bissouma and Reguilon could be seen pushing the right-back away so that the winning team could have their photo taken without any interruptions but Emerson was never going to let them do that.
Japhet Tanganga came over to the camera and let everyone know that Bissouma had been "crying" the previous day over the winning team, with the Mali international then stating that "yesterday is yesterday, today is today" after Emerson had made it clear that "we smashed you yesterday". It's never straightforward when it comes to the winning team having their photo taken!
Santiago's determination
With many of the first team still on their summer break due to the international football that was played in June, a handful of the club's talented youngsters have stepped up in their absence. Santiago, who was involved in first-team training sessions on occasions last season, is one of those.
The young Spaniard did make his mark with a well-taken goal that will have pleased the coaching staff. Working hard to win the ball back off Ndombele after the Frenchman had seized upon his loose first touch, Santiago's determination then saw him get the better of Tanganga before arrowing the ball into the bottom corner beyond Alfie Whiteman.
As a few of the club's academy players do travel with the first team on their pre-season tour, Santiago will be hoping he makes the plane to Australia and Asia this year.
Who would you keep or sell at Spurs this summer? Have your say below!
