Familiar foe for Michel

Michel Vorm will give Hugo Lloris the inside track on many of his former team-mates ahead of today’s match at Swansea City.

The Dutch international goalkeeper spent three years at the Liberty Stadium prior to his switch to White Hart Lane in the summer.

Consequently he’s familiar with the threats of the Swans and he says he’ll have a chat with fellow stopper Hugo about certain individuals who could come up against us as we return to Premier League action this afternoon.

“It’s different for me to go back and be on the other side,” said Michel, who was in goal on Thursday night as we slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Besiktas in the Europa League.

“Hugo will step in now for the Premier League game and it’s nice to go back there but I also know that, having played for them, it’s hard to win there.

“They try to keep the ball and press high – they are similar to us. Gylfi Sigurdsson is probably one of their best players and he used to play here, so obviously the lads will know him.

“There’s also Wilfried Bony who is someone we must not give a chance to, but everybody knows that.

“I know Bony better than other strikers in the Premier League. He is a very talented striker and it’s hard to tell what he’s going to do.

“He’s got a lot of skill and technique when he strikes the ball and he’s very calm in front of goal, but Hugo and I will definitely talk about it – that’s what we always do. We have to be on top of our game to win there.”

Making his first return to Swansea since his transfer, 31-year-old Michel is looking forward to catching up with some familiar faces – although he knows we have a job to do first.

“It’s still special for me because I had three lovely years there and I’m looking forward to the game,” he said.

“Swansea are a team who try to play football like we do. We know it’s going to be tough but if we find our form we have a chance of beating them.”