sport news MATT BARLOW: Sessegnon is finally living up to his billing as English ... trends now
Three weeks before Ryan Sessegnon sparkled in Tottenham’s stylish start to the new campaign he was in Seoul and explaining why he was sure this season would be different.
Sessegnon told how he had built strength into his body during the summer, especially around his hamstrings in a determined effort to end the muscular injuries that have frustrated his progress at Spurs.
He knew Antonio Conte had signed Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan with a view to installing him at left wing-back.
Ryan Sessegnon scored Tottenham's first against Southampton after thriving at wing-back
This meant fierce competition because Conte trusts experience, but Sessegnon vowed to learn from the 33-year-old Croatia international, promising to tap into his vast knowledge for support and advice.
On Saturday, he proved he was serious about what he said in South Korea, and the early signs in his relationship with Perisic are encouraging.
‘He’s a great player who has won a lot of titles,’ said Sessegnon, after heading in Tottenham’s first goal of the season in the 4-1 win over Southampton.
‘He’s also a great person who helped me a lot already. Even the goal, he told me to get in at the back post and score. Before the warm-up, he came to me and said Kyle Walker-Peters is quite small so if the ball goes into the back post make sure you are there to head it. I took in on board.’
Beyond the goal, which hauled Spurs level, he caused many problems for Saints by raiding into the space behind Walker-Peters.
When Perisic came on to replace him in the 66th minute, the home crowd rose as one to applaud him from the pitch.
It really did feel like a fresh start for Sessegnon, three years after his £15million transfer from Fulham, where he scored 15 goals operating as a wing-back or wide attacker in their
