MOURA THE SAME AT CITY, PLEASE!

Hat-trick hero key to Spurs’ dreams of reaching semis

NOT for the first time this season, Tottenham have shown they can produce brilliant performances without Harry Kane.

This time, though, it was Lucas Moura and not Son Heung-min who was the star of the show with an outstanding hat- trick against Huddersfield.

Moura did not look a player who had scored just once in 12 appearances in 2019.

He showed outstanding technique with his second goal to control the ball with his left before volleying in with his right. His emphatic third was the sign of a player brimming with confidence.

Moura must be allowed to take this momentum into Spurs’ Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City at the Etihad on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola set City up to contain Tottenham in last week’s first leg. Playing with just one creative midfielder, he sent them out with one hand tied behind their back.

Yesterday, he restored Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane to the starting line-up at Crystal Palace with a clear instruction to attack. That will be the message against Spurs, too. Tottenham may find themselves having to weather the storm for long periods but in Moura and Son, they have two speed demons who can punish City on the break. Son linked up well with Moura in a seven-minute cameo off the bench on Saturday. They should be given the opportunity to develop that partnership as Spurs bid to reach the Champions League semi-finals. Much has been made of Tottenham’s lack of recruitment over the past two transfer windows but Son and Moura (left) have proved they are able deputies for Kane. Imagine just how good this team could be if Mauricio Pochettino is backed with funds to improve his squad further this summer.