Yule see real Spurs

JAN VERTONGHEN believes Spurs are stronger than ever, and aims to prove his theory over the festive period.

Spurs host Southampton today still needing to play significant catch-up if they want to emulate their third and secondplace finishes of the last two seasons.

“I still think we’re stronger than last year,” said the Belgium defender. “We just have to get that run going, hopefully around Christmas.

“We still have the same group and we’re still with each other. I see no reason not to get back on track. A bit of luck is missing this year, but only Kyle Walker left us from that team and I see no reason we can’t do the same again.”

Mauricio Pochettino left Southampton in May 2014 to become Tottenham manager and has lost only one of six games against his former employers.

Tottenham will also be hoping to see two other ex-Saints on the pitch, Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld.

Midfielder Wanyama is back in the frame after being sidelined since August with a knee injury while Alderweireld, Vertonghen’s team-mate in the Belgium backline, has resumed training after a hamstring tear.

Saints midfielder Mario Lemina insists he has no regrets about quitting Juventus for St Mary’s Stadium.

The Gabon midfielder, who completed a £17 million move last summer, said: “It wasn’t a difficult decision at all. It was the right decision. It was something I needed – I wanted to play. I’m in this game to play ON TRACK: Vertonghen is confident football – I’m not here to watch it. I liked the project here at Southampton, so it was the right moment and right decision.” Southampton will be without forward Charlie Austin after he was banned for three games by the Football Association for kicking Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl on Saturday. The Danish goalkeeper Lossl was left with a bloodied face and a suspected broken nose.