Tottenham: Lucas Bergvall to be assessed after new injury scare as Thomas Frank praises Archie Gray | OneFootball

Tottenham’s hard-fought win over Crystal Palace has come at a cost

Thomas Frank has praised Archie Gray’s resilience after his first Tottenham goal sealed a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Frank, though, has kept his faith in the teenager, and he saw his trust rewarded at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon as Gray nodded in the winning goal on the stroke of half-time.

Speaking after the game, Frank highlighted Gray’s importance in the press and said he fully deserved to net his first Premier League goal after a stirring reaction to his performance against Forest.

“Yes, definitely (he deserved his goal). I think Archie is growing,” Frank said in his post-match press conference.

“I think he, showed why he has got a very good potential in many ways. I think it's another fine performance overall today.

“Talking about resilience, he made the mistake in the Nottingham game, played another good game against Liverpool, growing as a young man, and you can just see he was alert, I love that goal, because he's alert, he's seen where the ball will land, and he's ready on it.

“I think he showed a lot of quality, he covered the ground so well. I think he's excellent in the pressing game. The defensive transition was brilliant, to close it down. And then I think he's good on the ball, but of course in a game where we're not top in that area.”

Fresh scare: Lucas Bergvall

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Gray was name checked, alongside Lucas Bergvall, as the future of Tottenham’s midfield by Frank last week, and the pair impressed as Spurs edged a gritty game in south London.

Bergvall, though, was replaced just past the hour mark with what looked like a groin injury, and Frank said the Swedish midfielder would be assessed on Monday ahead of Spurs’ trip to Brentford on New Year’s Day.

“Yes, I hope so (that he is okay). Of course, we will assess him tomorrow.”