Ange Postecoglou on why Djed Spence wasn’t in Tottenham squad v West Ham

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Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a triumphant return to Premier League action as they ran out 4-1 winners over West Ham United on Saturday.

However, there was a notable omission from the Spurs matchday squad, namely Djed Spence.

The Tottenham full-back was the talk of N17 this week after signing a new contract, capping off a truly remarkable turnaround in his career.

With Spence unable to play in the Europa League at present, his only chance of football is currently in the Premier League and domestic cups.

He was expected to at least make the matchday squad, but he was missing as Paul O’Keefe reported that Spence had suffered a knock.

Ange Postecoglou, speaking after Tottenham’s hammering of the Hammers, explained why Spence wasn’t in the squad.

Ange Postecoglou says Djed Spence suffered groin strain in Tottenham training

When asked by football.london why Spence wasn’t in the Spurs squad, Postecoglou replied: “He picked up a bit of a groin strain in training. Hopefully nothing too bad but he missed out today.”

With Tottenham next in Europa League action, Spence will now have to wait until next Sunday before he can feature for Spurs again.

Spurs host AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday night before heading to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Tottenham run riot against West Ham

Spurs were eager to make amends for their shock capitulation to Brighton before the international break, but things didn’t go to plan against West Ham initially.

Tottenham conceded just 18 minutes in as Jarrod Bowen got the better of Destiny Udogie before setting up Mohammed Kudus to lash in.

However, Spurs quickly set about trying to get back in the game and they duly did so in the 36th minute.

James Maddison teed up Dejan Kulusevski to cut in and aimed at the near post, with Alphonse Areola getting a hand to it, but the ball then went in after coming off both posts.

Spurs added a second in the 53rd minute as Son Heung-min and Destiny Udogie combined to set Yves Bissouma up for a great finish.

Bissouma’s goal opened the floodgates, with Tottenham making it three just two minutes later as Jean-Clair Todibo deflected a Son effort into his own net.

Then, in the 60th minute, Son got the better of Todibo – a former Spurs target – with some stepovers before beating Areola at his near post to make it 4-1 to Spurs.