Werner scores first for Spurs helping them beat Crystal Palace from behind

Timo Werner first arrived in English football as a goal machine on the back of a 30-plus season in the Bundesliga but those days are gone.

Perceptions changed during his two years at Chelsea, where he was never close to the blistering strike rate of his first spell at RB Leipzig. Instead, he acquired a reputation for missing chances and being offside, and few were upset in the summer of 2022 to see him return whence he came.

Goals have deserted Werner, 27, and yet his endeavour has never faltered. So when he scored for the first time in a Tottenham shirt, the equaliser in a 3-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace having missed a glorious chance, one-on-one with the goalkeeper with the game goalless, there was a genuine swell of affection and a sigh of relief.

‘I’m very happy for him,’ said Son Heung-min. ‘Timo is working really hard. I wish he had scored in the first half to make the game a little bit easier but he was very happy to score his first for Spurs. He deserved it and there are many more to come.

‘When you miss a big chance you think the world is against you but Timo stepped up, didn’t give up. He’s playing fantastic. I hope he enjoyed a goal that can help the team, but Timo shouldn’t celebrate this any more because the fans and the players are expecting more from him. I hope he continues to work hard and help his team.’

It was a vital goal in Tottenham’s comeback after they went behind to a brilliant free-kick by Eberechi Eze. It broke the Palace resistance because, three minutes later, Cristian Romero headed Spurs into the lead and Son broke clear to score the third late on.

It also rekindled thoughts of what could be if Ange Postecoglou were able to fix the Werner goal machine.

‘After what happened in the first half