Positivity pushing Japhet on

Japhet Tanganga returned to first team action last night after almost eight weeks out with injury - and the defender feels he’s come back stronger than before.

Out of action since suffering an ankle ligament injury in our penultimate game of the 2020/21 season against Aston Villa, Japhet entered the fray in Wednesday night’s 3-0 pre-season win over Colchester United as a second-half substitute and wore the captain’s armband on his return.

The versatile defender had been a breakout star for us in the 2019/20 season having made the step up from youth to first team football with a memorable debut display against Liverpool, but he has since suffered his fair share of injuries.

However, after a period of recuperation over the summer, the England Under-21 international is back, fighting fit and ready to kick on in a Spurs shirt.

“I’ve said before, I had quite a tough season last year with the injuries – it was a bit unfortunate for me – but I’m just happy to be back out there with the boys, playing and training, and back to normal,” he explained at full-time in north Essex.

“I just look to the positives. Staying positive and remembering, things happen for a reason - that’s just my mindset. I have my faith in God, my family, the support around. That’s all that really matters and that’s how I’m approaching things

“I’m just grateful to the physios. They helped me so much, they’ve given me programmes to help me, my family as well, everyone. I just know I have to stay positive. Everything happens for a reason. It makes you come back stronger and I think that’s the case.”