“Do yoga!” – Ange Postecoglou hits back at critics of Dominic Solanke

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has defended striker Dominic Solanke against early criticism.

Solanke has made just three appearances for Spurs since joining from Bournemouth in August. He started in the Premier League against Leicester City and Arsenal, and in the Carabao Cup against Coventry City, but has yet to score for the Lilywhites.

The 27-year-old's start to the season was disrupted by an ankle injury sustained on his debut and he only returned to training shortly after the international break in September.

Ahead of Saturday's away game against Brentford, Postecoglou was asked whether Solanke's £65 million transfer fee and the associated expectations were weighing heavily on him.

“I don't know because people are so quick to judge, buddy. It's a small sample,” he replied.

“The guy has less than two [full] games for us. If he's played 15 games without scoring a goal, I can answer that question, or 15 games where he hasn't contributed anything, but I just think to myself: 'Take a breath, do some yoga. Think about the world for a moment and then take stock.'

“We don't always have to make hasty judgements because the alternative is that he might have had a great start, he's fit, he's scored in all four games, he's at his best and then, like all strikers, he goes through a phase where he doesn't score goals.

“I just don't look at those things. I see that he came in, fit in really well and, logically, sustained an injury that thwarted the start of his career as he had planned, but he still has plenty of time for that.”