Premier League

TOTTENHAM 6 (Kane 8, Dier 21, Bentancur 47, Son 73, 84, 86)
LEICESTER CITY 2 (Tielemans 6 pen, Maddison 41)

HEUNG-MIN Son has had a rough time of it recently.

Dropped from the starting XI against Leicester City today (Saturday), last season’s Golden Boot winner had failed to get off the mark so far this term, and had brought little else to tepid performances.

Son has been out of sorts – in a rut not seen since he worked his way into the team six years ago after a forgettable debut season. His popularity, however, meant criticisms were said in hushed voices and apologetically.

Antonio Conte left the forward on the bench for nearly an hour in this extraordinary 6-2 win, and Son responded with a bring-the-house-down 13-minute hat-trick as Spurs sealed a confidence building victory.

Goals from Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Rodrigo Bentancur and Son were answered by two players Tottenham had been said to be admiring over the summer – Youri Tielemans and James Maddison. Their strikes for the Foxes gave the first 45 minutes a semblance of balance that did not tell the true story.

Speaking after the game Conte said: “It was an important win, to get three points was vital for us. We played with confidence, with great energy. Under difficult circumstances, I saw a great reaction from everybody.”

It was high drama and the 61,450 attending did not have to wait long for the fireworks to begin. On five minutes, Leicester full-back James Justin was brought down just inside the box by Davinson Sanchez, and referee Simon Hooper had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

Tielemans stepped up but Hugo Lloris guessed the right way and got a strong hand to push the ball around the post. As the Tottenham celebrations were in full swing, however, the fourth official told the referee Lloris had moved before the ball was kicked, forcing a retake – and this time Leicester’s number eight made no mistake.

Spurs, though, looked dangerous and went straight up the other end and got an immediate reply. A short corner saw Dejan Kulusevski whip a deep cross to the back post, where Kane rose highest to finish with a delicately guided header.

Then, Ivan Perisic’s left-footed delivery was at the perfect height for Dier to get ahead of his man and direct a header to the far post to give Spurs the lead.

Moments later the home side were sure they had made it three when a Perisic corner flew directly in, but Sanchez was judged to have fouled keeper Danny Ward and the goal was chalked off.

It seemed like a straight forward win was on the cards, until Maddison somehow flicked a difficult finish over Lloris’s head to make it 2-2 and give Brendan Rodgers an unlikely toehold.

Bentancur mixed anticipation, grit and a cultured finish to make it 3-2 – nicking the ball off Wilfred Ndidi before breaking forward and curling a low effort past Ward.

Son then stole the show. Proving the old adage that form is temporary but class permanent, the South Korea striker hit a quick-fire double as he twice curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box – the first with his right foot, the second with his left.

He then earned his hat-trick as he raced onto a through ball and finished. There could not have been a better way to announce he was back.

Tottenham: Lloris, Sanchez (Romero, 59), Dier, Lenglet, Perisic (Royal, 54), Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon, Kulusevski (Bissouma, 69), Richarlison (Son, 58), Kane
Substitutes not used: Forster, Doherty, Skipp, Gil, Tanganga

Leicester City: Ward, Castagne, Faes, Evans, Justin, Ndidi (Soumare, 85), Barnes, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall (Iheanacho, 73), Maddison, Daka (Vardy, 73)
Substitutes not used: Iverson, Albrighton, Perez, Amartey, Praet, Thomas