Ryan’s relief after bagging first goal

RYAN SESSEGNON joked that Antonio Conte would have killed him if he had failed to score Tottenham’s equaliser, his first Premier League goal for the club.

‘There was a moment a couple of minutes earlier when Dejan Kulusevski cut the ball back,’ Sessegnon told Sky Sports. ‘I arrived too late and I knew I could not arrive too late the next time.’

The next time, Sessegnon climbed above Kyle Walker-Peters and headed another Kulusevski cross past Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to level at 1-1.

‘Five minutes before we were really upset with him on the bench,’ chuckled Conte. ‘He has to attack the second post and find the right position. Then he scored and we were pleased and celebrated a lot because five minutes before he wasn’t in the same place to score.’

It promises to be a big season for Sessegnon, who took a personal trainer to Portugal for a week before pre-season, in a bid to bulk up, end his injury woes and impress Conte by competing for his place with summer signing Ivan Perisic.

This performance was a good way to start. It was not enough to prevent Conte from replacing him with Perisic but it earned him a standing ovation as he came off.

‘It’s very important we signed a player like Ivan Perisic,’ said Conte. ‘We are talking about a top player.

‘Sometimes it’s good to bring in players even if they are over-age. If they are a good player with experience, they can bring experience to improve young players. I think Sess is doing this (improving).

‘I was really pleased because he played a good game. He has potential but he has to show it.’