‘We know’: Troy Deeney claims Tottenham look so much better as a team when £45m player starts
Troy Deeney has emphasized how much more dangerous Tottenham Hotspur becomes in front of goal when Brennan Johnson is on the pitch.
The North London side continued their recent resurgence with a commanding 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road, marking their third consecutive win as they push to revive their Premier League campaign.
Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski also found the net, but it was Johnson’s brace that stole the spotlight, further proving his significance to Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
This victory keeps Spurs within ten points of the top five, a testament to their improving form as key players return from injury. Among those making a notable impact, Johnson has stood out as a game-changer, according to Deeney.
The £45 million forward wasted no time making his presence felt after returning from injury, scoring twice to bring his tally for the season to 14 across all competitions.
His influence has been particularly evident in the Premier League, where he has netted nine goals in 23 appearances. In the Europa League, he has contributed three goals and one assist in six matches, while also scoring once in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Despite some criticism from Spurs supporters earlier in the season, Deeney believes Johnson’s ability to find the back of the net has been sorely missed. Speaking to BBC Sport, Deeney acknowledged the Welsh international’s importance, stating that Johnson’s return comes at the perfect time.
He praised Johnson’s direct play and goal threat, describing Spurs as a much more formidable attacking unit with him in the lineup.
Postecoglou echoed these sentiments, labeling Johnson a unique asset in his attacking setup. He pointed out that Tottenham lacks another player with Johnson’s ability to time his runs and finish clinically, making him an indispensable part of the squad.
With his latest brace, Johnson now leads Tottenham’s goal-scoring charts by three goals, moving ahead of Dominic Solanke, who has 11 goals this season. This statistic underlines his importance to the team, especially considering that five Spurs players have reached double digits in goals.
Johnson tops the list with 14, followed by Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min, and James Maddison, each contributing 10 goals.
Postecoglou’s squad has benefitted from spreading goals across multiple players, giving Tottenham a well-balanced attack. The return of Solanke will further bolster their offensive options, providing Postecoglou with a wealth of talent to choose from as Spurs aim to close the gap on the Premier League’s top sides. With Johnson firing on all cylinders, Tottenham’s attacking prowess looks stronger than ever.