Tottenham: Richarlison must now step up for Ange Postecoglou after summer transfer disaster | OneFootball

Keeping Richarlison in the summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia has not worked out for Spurs

Tottenham's injury crisis has reached the point where Ange Postecoglou will have just four senior forwards available for the foreseeable future, unless the club signs another attacker before the February 3 deadline.

Enter Richarlison, who is is set to make his first league start of the season in Sunday's visit of Leicester City, and suddenly finds himself as central as anyone at Spurs to the club's hopes of salvaging a difficult season.

"He's as fit as he could possibly be," Postecoglou said of Richarlison, who made his first start since October in Thursday's Europa League win over Hoffenheim.

"We are obviously managing his minutes at the moment. He got through it [at Hoffenheim] last night. He hasn’t played for a long time so he is not going to be his sharpest.

"We have still got to manage that. The reality is, unless something changes, he has to play."

Richarlison is set for a run in the Tottenham side

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Spurs were open to selling Richarlison in the summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia but the forward was reluctant to go.

As it stands, keeping Richarlison has been a disaster for Spurs, who might have spend the proceeds of a sale on a more durable forward but instead have had to make do with Solanke as their only fit No9 for the most of the campaign.

The silver lining of Spurs' selection injury crisis has been opportunities for younger or fringe players, notably Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence, and now Richarlison has the chance to remind the club — and the rest of the English game — of his qualities.

Spurs could do with a saviour — or, simply, some senior players staying fit and stepping up — and Richarlison is nothing if not confident; responding to a supporter on social media who this week pointed out that the club are 15th in the table, he replied: 'Don't worry bro, now I play'.

In another nod to Richarlison's character, Postecoglou on Friday dismissed the suggestion that he would prefer a spell in the team without competition from summer signing Solanke, who has steadily grown in influence since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in a £55million deal.

"I don't think Richy cares about Dom Solanke or anybody else," Postecoglou said. "When Richy is playing he is Brazil’s No.9.

As it stands, keeping Richarlison has been a disaster for Spurs

"When he played for us last year he was scoring goals. I don’t think Richy was ever worried. I think he will welcome Dom coming back. Both of them playing together could be a force for us. I don’t think that factors into it."

As the Australian has pointed out, Richarlison has looked a good fit for Postecoglou's high-octane approach when available, but his ability to stay injury-free remains a major concern, particularly with rotation out of the window while Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner are all sidelined.

Spurs have taken extra care with Richarlison, though, giving him two weeks on the training ground before substitute appearances in the back-to-back league defeats to Arsenal and Everton, and the hope is that he can not only get through the next period of games but provide Spurs with some freshness up top.

He will also need to offer a focal point and goals while Solanke is sidelined or help arrives in the form of new signings and Postecoglou believes he is up to the task.

"Richy is just happy he is physically in good shape and able to start contributing. A lot of the injured guys their biggest probably frustration is that they can’t help the team," Postecoglou said. "I know that is his main driver right now."