Author: Lily White

Anna Csiki has returned from her loan at West Ham

A flurry of incomings have been followed by some outgoings at Tottenham Hotspur Women. Kit Graham and Martha Thomas have both left on loan. They follow Ashleigh Neville, who left Hotspur Way permanently, joining Leicester.

Kit Graham has joined Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the season. Graham came to Spurs from Charlton Athletic in 2019, becoming a member of the club’s first ever WSL squad. In total, she has made 91 appearances and scored 11 times. This includes appearing in all five games in 2024 FA Cup run that ended with her coming on as a second half sub at Wembley. Sadly, her time in North London has been scuppered by terrible injuries.

Martha Thomas, meanwhile, joined Liverpool on loan last week. She made a strong start after joining from Man Utd in 2023, scoring 10 goals in the opening season. Famously, she scored the goal that gave Spurs their first ever win in the North London Derby. She also headed in the goal that sent Spurs to that FA Cup final. However, she has been struggling for goals, scoring just 13 times in 66 appearances. Thomas scored on her debut for the Reds against London Bees.

Both this loan moves could, and should, help the players get their careers back on track. Elsewhere, Anna Csiki returned from her loan at West Ham today. She’s played 10 times for the Hammers, scoring in the team’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month.

Spurs have made huge progress under Martin Ho, but they still lack that statement win. A victory over one of the “Big Four”. Can they change that this weekend?

Spurs were not fantastic last time out against Aston Villa, but that 95th minute Olivia Holdt winner will give them a huge confidence boost going into the game. Ho described it as “huge”. He added that “when you’re not at your best and you can win games, I think it’s the signs of a good team in the making.”

The Dane finished after a wonderful reverse pass by Drew Spence, who this week signed a new contact with the club. Ho regards the Jamaican international as one key leaders in his squad. Spence and captain Bethany England will certainly have to stand up if their team is going to get anything at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

The manager is clearly going into the game with a positive attitude: “If we put in a big performance, and we perform to the levels I know we can, with and without the ball, I believe we can be a match for anyone, and we’ve shown that in large spells now.” 

Interestingly he said “that we go into this game with a totally different mentality in terms of how we’ve been in the previous game against Arsenal just recently.” This perhaps suggest a bit more attacking intent. However, Ho was clear that “I’m under no illusion that it’s big task in terms of when we play these teams”.

Spurs will have to get this win, and a lot of others, without Jessica Naz. The England winger has cruelly got the second ACL injury of her career and will not be back for some time. “She’s doing okay,” said Ho. He conceded that Naz “will be a big loss in terms of in and out of possession”. Molly Bartrip’s return to the heart of the Tottenham defence is timely though. However well they have been playing without her, it’s yet another senior player back in the mix.

Spurs proved recently against Arsenal that they can grind it out against the top teams. It’s been a remarkable turnaround since that early-season shambles against Man City. However, getting over the line  is going to require a real creative spark. Maybe a bit of magic from the bench. I cannot quite see where that is going to come from. But Spurs barely had a sight of Arsenal’s goal in that famous derby almost exactly two years ago and, in Holdt, they have a special player who provide those standout out moments.