Richarlison eyes start after injury setback as Tottenham host north London derby

Tottenham forward Richarlison is primed to start upon his return from injury for Sunday’s north London derby with Arsenal.

Spurs enter this home fixture after a two-week break, which has allowed Richarlison to fully recover from a knee injury that halted an impressive run of nine goals in 10 matches and prevented him starting since February 17.

Tottenham have struggled for consistency in Richarlison’s absence and lost 4-0 at Newcastle a fortnight ago, but the Brazil international is ready to provide a point of difference and bring the physicality to Arsenal’s rock-solid defence on Sunday.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou revealed: “When he’s been in, he’s been really good for us but then had two injuries and started the season with an injury.

“Great to have him back and it does gives us other options in that front third. We’re kind of really fortunate that he was at his best when Sonny (Heung-min Son) was away and he filled that breach.

“Talking about how we’re going to cover the goals with the loss of Harry (Kane) and at different times they both have stood up, but we’ve rarely had them together in great physical shape.

“Richy’s looked good in training this week, which is good and he’s obviously ready to go. We’re going to need him over the last six games and it does give us another good option in that front third.”

While Postecoglou did not confirm whether Richarlison would start, he did reveal Ben Davies would slot into the XI due to the absence of Destiny Udogie, who will not play again this season after thigh surgery.

Davies will be up against Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka but does have an excellent record of four wins from four whenever he has started a home north London derby.

There is plenty at stake, given victory for the Gunners would move them closer to a first league title in 20 years.

Postecoglou is desperate for Spurs to be in this position in 12 months time, adding: “When it gets to this time of the year, I want us to be one of the ones fighting for that ultimate prize.

“Right now we are 10 to 15 points behind that. That’s your measure. We can win on Sunday but it doesn’t mean we are title contenders this year.

“To be title contenders you’ve got to do it over the course of the whole year.”

Similarities can be drawn between the journey Arsenal are on and what Postecoglou is trying to achieve in N17, but he does not want Tottenham to follow the five-year plan that was a buzzword during the early years of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

“When I think of the challenges I’ve put to this group of players, a lot of them in the Premier League for the first time or still very young, I haven’t wavered in not making excuses for them,” Postecoglou admitted.

“I love the fact that they haven’t sought that.

“So on my side, I am purposely being hard on them because some of the potential in this group is pretty exciting and I don’t want to limit that.

“They’ve said, ‘OK, we are a new group’, it could be so easy to say this is a new five-year project, but we want to be better than that, we want to get in quicker than that.

“So from that perspective, I am proud (of them).”