Alasdair Gold has dropped a very encouraging claim on new Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of pre-season training next week...

What's the word?

Due to the timing of their appointment, some doubts were cast over how quickly the Portuguese would be getting involved, having signed a two-year deal with the option of a third on Wednesday evening.

According to the ever-reliable football.london journalist, the 47-year-old will be on the training pitches in perfect time.

Speaking on a recent video on his YouTube channel, Gold said: "He is currently self-isolating at the Lodge, which if you're not aware is the very swanky, luxurious five-star hotel at Hotspur Way, the training complex. He'll be there until midway through next week.

"The plan is, as it always is, is that the non-internationals will return on Monday to go through all the sports science team tests that they do. They have loads of testing, you often see it every year. There are photos and videos, the bleep test. Things like that.

"What the plan is, on either Tuesday or Wednesday, Nuno Espirito Santo will come out of his isolation and will be able to immediately start work on the pitches. It'll all sync up quite nicely."

Timely boost

This is a very encouraging boost for the Lilywhites for numerous reasons.

First, it suggests that no time will be lost in their preparation for the 2021/22 campaign, in which the north London outfit will certainly have to improve on last season's efforts - a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, a Carabao Cup final defeat and embarrassingly crashing out of the Europa League.

At one stage, the club looked to be heading into next week without a manager, which would have been a rather damaging prospect, but now it seems as if Nuno will be able to prepare his entire pre-season schedule before getting hands-on early in the week.

Secondly, it means those players who haven't been at Euro 2020 or the Copa America can get to grips with their new boss, understand his project, system and much more. This includes his former Wolves defender Matt Doherty, who has endured a tough time since his £15m switch to Spurs.

He's just one of many players who are in line to benefit from a fresh start in N17, and if anything, his presence could help his former coach settle in a little easier. Ultimately, that is another boost working in favour of Spurs.

All in all, chairman Daniel Levy and new sporting director Fabio Paratici seem to have got this hire spot-on at exactly the right time. Any later and the club would be in further peril.

Ultimately, that should leave both Spurs' hierarchy and supporters absolutely buzzing heading into the new season, thanks to this encouraging insight from Gold.

AND in other news, Dier, Doherty and 3 new signings start in 4-3-3: Predicting Spurs' XI under Nuno Santo...