Ange Postecoglou questioned over Tottenham goalkeeper decisions amid Antonin Kinsky and Brandon Austin battle

Ange Postcoglou has been questioned over his use of Fraser Forster over recent weeks. Tottenham have been struggling with injuries this season, with a mountain of issues piling up over the last six weeks.

One of them is goalkeeper Vicario, who is sidelined until at least late February, with Fraser Forster having filled in for the most part. That was until Brandon Austin was brought in for the Newcastle United defeat, a game in which he impressed, while new signing Antonin Minsky started and impressed during the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool, especially with the ball at his feet.

The goalkeeper situation was discussed by National World’s Daniel Wales and James Trembath this week, as you can see on the video at the top of this page, with the latter saying: “It was slightly ironic, wasn't it, that we end up playing the third-choice goalkeeper. He plays so well, and then literally at the background at the training ground, we're signing a new goalkeeper. But I think it needed to happen.

“Brandon Austin's been a real good servant to Spurs. He's never kicked a ball. Being out on loan a couple of times, to the MLS, but he's been at Spurs since a young boy in the academy. He was fantastic, and I think the one thing you would say is, why has he not been playing instead of Fraser Forster? He was very, very assured, commanded his box, made a couple of really, really strong saves, and he looked really, really assured with his feet.

“I think Ali McCoist gave him man of the match. That's the first time he's ever given man of the match to a player on the losing team, so it tells you everything, really. But yes, we've obviously brought in a goalkeeper. Don't know too much about Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague. Allegedly very, very highly rated, extremely good with his feet, and commands his box.”

Forster struggled for much of his time deputising for Vicario, and so there are genuine questions over not only how he won the race to be number two, but why he kept the job.

Porro’s inconsistency

Trembath also discussed Pedro Porro’s inconsistency this season and the recent signs that the Spaniard is headed back to good form. “I think there's been a little bit of burnout, to be honest,” he added. “I think it's like with a lot of Spurs players, you can sort of tell when the energy levels have been sapped. He's played a lot of football this season, not a lot of rest and rotation for him with all the injuries. And you could see he'd had six days rest, as had all the squad, and it really showed in the performance.

“He was such a threat down that right-hand side. The deliveries coming into the box were sort of Alexander-Arnold-esque at times. And his defending was much better as well. I think that's one criticism I've always had of Poirot. Going backwards, he is a little bit suspect, but actually, on Saturday, he was very, very solid defensively, really on his A-game and unlucky to be on the losing side, really.”