Clinton's forward focus

Fit again Clinton Njie hopes to put his injury-hit season behind him and help to take us to the next level in 2016-17.

The Cameroon international attacker returned to action after almost five months on the sidelines on Sunday afternoon as he replaced goalscorer Heung-Min Son during the second half of our eventual 2-1 defeat to Southampton at White Hart Lane.

It was his first appearance since damaging knee ligaments in our Europa League victory over Monaco on December 10 and, having arrived at the club last summer from French side Lyon, the 22-year-old says he’s looking to start with a clean slate next term after a difficult first campaign in England.

“I’m very, very happy to come back to the pitch,” he said. “Of course, it’s been a tough season for me from the start until now and I want to thank everybody – the staff, the doctors, the physiotherapists who have always been there for me, and I also want to thank all the fans for giving me such encouraging messages.

“Next season I think I’m going to be like a new signing to this team because I still have a lot to offer to our supporters and my team-mates. I just wish that next season I will be fitter so I can perform how I know I can and make everyone happy.”

Unfortunately, any good spirits surrounding Clinton’s comeback at the weekend were dampened by the final score as a brace from Steven Davis saw the Saints escape with maximum points.

Clinton felt we were “unlucky” to emerge empty-handed but insisted the squad’s focus is now solely on this Sunday’s final day trip to Newcastle United, where we’ll look for a first league win in four games.

“It’s a disappointing result for us,” he confirmed. “Southampton scored in the second half and after that they decided to play defensive football, they planned their game very well and sometimes that’s it. They had a team spirit in the second half that allowed them not to concede a goal.

“We were unlucky but now we have to look forward to the Newcastle game – we just want to go there and get the win to end our season perfectly.”