Good evening, Spurs fans. Here are your evening headlines for Monday, November 16.
Doherty tests positive for Covid-19
Tottenham Hotspur defender Matt Doherty has tested positive for coronavirus while away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.
The Football Association of Ireland confirmed Doherty returned a positive test after playing 90 minutes in Ireland’s Nations League defeat by Wales in Cardiff on Sunday evening.
Stoke City winger James McClean also tested positive after starting alongside Doherty in the 1-0 defeat.
"The players have been isolated from the group as per COVID-19 protocols, and the HSE have been informed of this development,” read the FAI’s statement.
"The rest of the staff & squad tested negative ahead of the flight back to Dublin this morning before the UEFA Nations League match against Bulgaria on Wednesday."
Celik admits Premier League interest after Spurs links
Lille defender Zeki Celik has admitted the thought of playing in the Premier League “attracts” him after being linked with a move to Spurs over the summer.
Right-back Celik was mooted as a Tottenham target prior to the club’s acquisition of Doherty from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I heard there was interest from Tottenham, but I don’t know if they made a bid,” Celik told So Foot via Sport Witness.
“Either way, I know the Premier League is a championship that attracts me, but I’m happy to have stayed especially when you look at the start of our season.”
Celik has started the campaign strongly, helping Lille sit second in Ligue 1 after 10 games, five points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Bale in ‘great shape’ ahead of PL return
Wales caretaker boss Robert Page believes Gareth Bale is “loving his football again” as the winger continued his career revival on international duty.
Bale bagged his first goal since returning to Spurs on loan from Real Madrid in the win over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month, and notched an assist as Wales beat Ireland in the Nations League.
Bale’s header led to Davis Brooks’ winner in Cardiff as the 31-year-old lived up to Page’s glowing pre-match assessment.
"He's a different person at the minute, he looks like he is loving his football again,” Page told Sky Sports.
"He's at a club where the manager wants him and he's enjoying his training and the minutes he's getting on the pitch.
"Sensibly, Tottenham are building him up to that full 90 minutes when he can compete at the intensity they want him to.
"We've managed that as well this week and even in glimpses of him in training, he's something else. He's a specimen - 6ft 2in and very athletic - and we all know what his ability is like.”
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