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Tottenham's Gylfi Sigurdsson will show he’s the real deal after Bale departure
GYLFI SIGURDSSON has been backed to keep firing in front of goal and soften Tottenham’s blow of losing Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.
That is the view of Sigurdsson’s Iceland team-mate Aron Gunnarsson, who faces his compatriot when Cardiff host Spurs in the Premier League tomorrow.
Sigurdsson, above, bagged a double in Tottenham’s 2-0 home win over Norwich last weekend and Gunnarsson believes the 24-year-old can fill the goal-scoring void left by Bale, who scored 26 goals last season.
Cardiff midfielder Gunnarsson said: “With Bale gone, Gylfi can score goals. If you give him time and space he will pick his corner, give the keeper the eye and then put the ball in the other corner.
“It will be hard playing against him because I know what he is capable of.”
While Gunnarsson will aim to stop his close friend by gaining a positive result at the Cardiff City Stadium, the duo will link up for international duty hoping to book a trip to next summer’s World Cup with Iceland lying in second place in Group E.
Gunnarsson said: “Gylfi is the biggest star in Iceland. He has proven himself in the Premier League and is a great player.
Gylfi is the biggest star in Iceland
“I don’t think I’ve seen a player play as well as Gylfi did against Albania in our last game for the national team. His touch was on a different level. Our aim is to reach Brazil. We need to get at least four points and then see what happens.”
Michael Dawson has told two-goal midweek hero Jermain Defoe to follow his example and keep fighting for his place. Defoe has started just two games this season – against Dinamo Tbilisi and Tromso in the Europa League – and has scored twice in each.
Dawson said: “Football is a strange game. This time last year, I wasn’t in the team, but I kept my head down, worked hard and from November onwards, the rewards were great.
“It’s frustrating when you are not playing. No player doesn’t want to play, but there are only 11 you can fit into the team.”