Tottenham need Llorente’s excellent Chelsea goal to be springboard for better form

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Harry Kane’s injury meant that Fernando Llorente was pressed into action in Tottenham’s match against Fulham last weekend, and it’s fair to say the Spaniard struggled.

He played like a man who was not expecting to be thrust into centre stage; he was slow and rusty, missing two headed chances and compounding his misery by putting through his own net in the first half.

But despite that, Mauricio Pochettino kept the faith with a player who has played for big sides such as Juventus and appeared at major tournaments for Spain – Llorente has been a quality operator – for the EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea last night.

And the first half was almost a continuation of the Fulham match; Llorente’s touch was off, he was struggling for service and could not lead the press effectively.

But in the second period, Danny Rose swung over an outstanding cross from the left – the kind Llorente thrives upon – and he nodded it home with aplomb.

Llorente’s passionate celebration belied a man with the monkey off his back – and it transpires he now has eight goals from his last five starts – although the calibre of those opponents was not as high as Chelsea.

But now he must kick on with the confidence that the goal should give him – as evidenced by his attempt to volley home a Christian Eriksen pass to make it 2-2 – and prove that he can temporarily step into Kane’s shoes.