Ange Postecoglou is about to face a new challenge at Tottenham amid Premier League title battle

Ange Postecoglou has performed miracles since taking the reins at Tottenham but the loss of Yves Bissouma will be an early test to the Australian's magic wand.

The former Brighton man has become integral to what Spurs are doing. He is combative, energetic and technically sound in control of the ball.

According to Premier League statistics, this season, Bissouma is averaging 73 passes per-game. He has also made 26 tackles, 13 interceptions, 25 clearances and 49 recoveries, winning 61 of his duels.

Those numbers are already higher than they were for the whole of last season, where Bissouma averaged just 31 passes per-game and only made 16 tackles, 12 interceptions and 25 clearances. He did make 19 more recoveries but that simply suggests more ball losses.

It is a revival that was so unexpected after the struggles he endured under former manager Antonio Conte. He, like a number of his team-mates, look like they have been fitted with several upgraded parts over the summer.

As an eleven, this Spurs team are working for each other and the atmosphere around the club could not be better. It is equally beneficial that they have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and are not distracted with any European competition.

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Postecoglou has yet to face a major injury crisis with his thin-looking squad. However, the nerves when James Maddison rolled over at the Emirates Stadium a few weeks ago were palpable.

Like Maddison, it is tough to see an out-and-out replacement for the muscle and industry of Bissouma. Oliver Skipp is a tidy footballer but he lacks the