Mourinho praises one Spurs sub’s impact after yesterday’s game… and it’s not Bale

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has told Football London that Harry Winks had the impact he desired against West Ham United.

Winks was brought on with Spurs 3-0 up and cruising against West Ham, but then things started to go wrong.

Fabian Balbuena headed home what looked like a consolation goal, before Davinson Sanchez’s own goal gave West Ham real hope.

Manuel Lanzini then scored a screamer to rescue a point for his side and leave Spurs crestfallen.

Winks was heavily criticised after the game, as his heavy touch allowed Lanzini the opportunity to shoot from range.

But Mourinho actually moved to praise the England international in his post-match press conference, as he suggested that Winks made Tottenham’s team look far more stable immediately after his introduction.

“That game at that moment was like that, with Winks on the pitch the team gained again that stability that we had,” he said.

“We were very much comfortable, we were in control. Then the first half appeared and everything changed.

“We were not then good enough or strong enough to cope with the last ten minutes.”

The praise for Winks comes at a time when the 24-year-old’s place in Tottenham’s team is uncertain.

Winks was a regular starter under Mourinho last term, but has now seen Tanguy Ndombele and Pierre Emile Hojbjerg move ahead of him in the pecking order, meaning his game time is far more limited.

Spurs are next in action on Thursday against LASK, when it will be interesting to see if Winks is given the nod to start.