Vertonghen loving life at the Lane

Jan Vertonghen says he has been at his best this season because he is playing with the best.

The Belgium international, 29, is loving life at White Hart Lane and especially playing alongside pal and international team-mate Toby Alderweireld.

Vertonghen also believes Vincent Janssen will fill the void left by injured Harry Kane and score for fun.

Netherlands striker Janssen has had a wretched time since his £17million arrival from AZ and scored only one goal in open play.

“It’s been tough for him but he’s determined to make it work,” Vertonghen said.

Vertonghen is desperate for Janssen to show fans why he once won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the Dutch Talent of the Year.

He added: “We are going to miss Harry Kane, who for me is the best player in the Premier League.

“But we do have a lot of options and we saw that against Millwall last week and when Harry was out before in October.

“People can come in and fill that role and one of them is Vincent. He came on against Millwall and played well there – so we have options.

“I hope now he has a spring in his step, knowing he might get a chance. Vincent is ready to play but so are other players.

“It’s been a tough time for him but he’s very determined to make it here.

“The position as a striker is the hardest one in the Premier League. It’s difficult for strikers to fill in that role. Some top, top strikers have struggled to score goals here.

“Vincent has done well. He got his first goal from open play and I still think he has a lot of confidence in training and he is working hard and scoring goals in training. I just think he needs that to happen in games and like all strikers it’s about needing a bit of confidence.

“He’s tough mentally, very strong. Obviously, as a striker, you want to score goals. And when the goals are not coming, you question yourself sometimes.

“I know him very well. I knew him in Holland and I’ve spoken to two players who played there with him every day who play in the national team and they are confident of his abilities – and so am I.

“It’s tough for strikers in England. In other competitions I’ve played in Holland, I think the referee helps you a lot more.

“Defenders are allowed a lot more in England – especially in the air – and that is hard for a striker.

“It is also not enough just to score goals, you need to help the team and work hard. I think the Premier League is very demanding for a striker.”

Spurs are desperate to make amends for losing out in the title race last season.

And Vertonghen would love to be able to play a couple of games from last term again.

He said: “We were doing so well until playing Chelsea. There were a couple of big results – the one we remember is at home to Leicester.

“We were so much better and should have won that game. That was a very big one.

“And then there was West Brom in the home game. We should have won three or four-nil but drew late in the game.

“After that, we felt the title was slipping through our fingers. Chelsea was the last chance and we didn’t take it.

“We were very disappointed at the end of the season because we had worked so hard. It just hit us – especially as we were two-nil up against Chelsea.”

(Daily Star)

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