Brennan Johnson denied hat-trick but weekend’s top performer now potential punt for Gameweek 31

SUCH is the nature of Tottenham’s season that even their wins are tarnished to some degree.

The North Londoners condemned Southampton to relegation on Sunday thanks to a Brennan Johnson (£2.8m) brace but the Wales international was visibly upset at full time having been denied the chance to score his first hat-trick for the club.

Reuters

Johnson produced two accomplished finishes but wasn’t given the chance to bag a hat-trick[/caption]

Johnson produced two excellent finishes in the first half, the first an emphatic strike and the second a deft effort of considerable composure.

When he suckered Saints defender Welington into an ill-judged challenge in the box deep into stoppage time, it looked for all the world as if he would end up taking the match ball home.

With Spurs leading and first-choice penalty taker Son Heung-min (£4.5m) having been substituted, Johnson clearly expected to take the spot-kick he earned.

However, after a discussion that involved several players, Mathys Tel (£3.1m) took charge and converted the penalty, much to Johnson’s frustration.

PA

Tel scored from the spot in stoppage time[/caption]

Despite this missed opportunity, the 23-year-old banked 19 Dream Team points when all was said and done as he was credited with a fantasy assist for his side’s third goal having drawn the foul.

He is Gameweek 30’s top performer as it stands.

MOST POINTS EARNED IN GAMEWEEK 30 SO FAR

• 19 pts – Brennan Johnson
• 16 pts – Evanilson
• 16 pts – Alex Iwobi
• 15 pts – Mateus Fernandes
• 12 pts – Pablo Sarabia

Johnson is the only player in the top five with another fixture to fulfil before the end of the Gameweek.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are due to host Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night.

Rex

Johnson may have earned a promotion in the pecking order[/caption]

The Australian coach has varied his team selections all season long but Johnson’s impressive brace has surely improved his chances of starting against the Bundesliga outfit.

The former Nottingham Forest man has jumped up to 11th in the midfield rankings, with a total of 229 points to his name.

With 16 goals in all competitions, he is Tottenham’s top scorer this season.

In fact, only four Dream Team assets have scored more goals in 2024/25 to date.

Add in seven assists and Johnson’s output is certainly not to be sniffed at, even if he has blown hot and cold throughout the campaign.

Reuters

The Europa League is Postecoglou’s last possible route to a trophy this season[/caption]

Having grabbed the headlines at the weekend, Johnson has to be considered a viable option for Gameweek 31, when Spurs will travel to Wolves before the second leg of their European quarter-final in Frankfurt.

They are one of just seven clubs set to pull double duty next Gameweek.

The main limiting factor to his viability is that his minutes are far from assured.

JOHNSON’S GAME TIME SINCE GAMEWEEK 27

• 45 minutes vs Bournemouth (h)
• 12 minutes vs AZ Alkmaar (h)
• 45 minutes vs Fulham (a)
• 26 minutes vs Chelsea (a)
• 90 minutes vs Southampton (h)

For many gaffers, those numbers simply won’t do – players can’t earn points if they’re not on the pitch.

Reuters

Who will line up in Spurs’ front three against Frankfurt?[/caption]

But if Johnson does get the nod in Gameweek 31 then he may well add to his healthy goal tally.

Thursday night’s game in North London will give Dream Team bosses a clearer indication of Postecoglou’s pecking order before the deadline.

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