Ryan Sessegnon put in an excellent performance in Spurs 4-1 win over Southampton justifying his start at the left wing-back position to Conte.
The young Englishman who will be competing spent the summer bulking up in order to improve his injury record and be ready to compete for a starting spot at Tottenham.
He spent two weeks in Portugal with a personal trainer, focusing on strengthening the areas around his hamstrings, which had been problematic in the previous three years.
Sessegnon said (via Daily Mail): ‘I had a solid two weeks just before pre-season started. Double sessions every day, upper body, lower body and just running a lot. Free weights and squats, hamstring work, obviously, because of my history.
‘Last season I was getting these injuries because places around my hamstring weren’t very strong.
‘So I’ve been doing stuff on my hips and my glutes to make myself stronger in every aspect and play more games, to have the capability to go up and down for the full 90 minutes.
‘That’s my goal, to get through the season strong and play many games for Spurs.’
His hard work seems to have paid off as Antonio Conte was left impressed by his performance. He told Football London:
I’m really pleased for Sess because we are working very well with him, especially on the physical aspect because in the past this player had many injuries and after one or two months, then again injury, muscular problems. He’s working well and we are giving him stability in the physical aspect. I think it’s very important that we signed a player like Ivan Perisic because he (Sessegnon) can see the way to learn something about Ivan. We are talking about a very important player in Ivan, a top player.
Sometimes it’s good to bring into your team players even if they are a bit over-age. If they are a good player with experience, they can bring this experience to improve young players in your squad. I think Sessegnon is doing this. I was really pleased because today he played a good game. Emerson played a good game. Now we have to continue in this way.
It seems as if he has cemented his place in the first team for now and if he can stay fit it is his spot to lose.
