Bergwijn takes heat off Levy with late rescue act as Spurs close in on top four

WHEN Antonio Conte spoke last week about the desperate need to get his injured players back to breathe new life into Tottenham’s season, Steven Bergwijn’s name did not immediately spring to mind.

- Malik Ouzia

Leicester 2 - Daka 24, Maddison 76

Tottenham 3 - Kane 38, Bergwijn (90+5, 90+7)

The defensive solidity of Eric Dier and Cristian Romero has been more sorely missed, so too the balance and thrust offered by Sergio Reguilon down the left and the irreplaceable attacking talents of Heung-min Son.

In fact, given interest from Ajax — who have failed with a £15million opening bid for the Dutchman already this month — it seemed that if Bergwijn was to be making a defining contribution to anyone’s season anytime soon, it would more likely be in the land of tulips, windmills and clogs than in Leicester.

Yet here he was, sent off the bench at the King Power on his first appearance since Boxing Day on a rescue mission, Spurs undeservedly trailing to goals from Patson Daka and James Maddison, despite Harry Kane’s 250th career club goal, 18 of them coming in just 17 appearances against the Foxes.

Bergwijn’s impact was more immediate and more significant than even Conte could have hoped, the forward scoring an equaliser in the 95th minute and then, less than two minutes later as time ran out, a famous winner as well.