Gary Lineker draws on own experience to give Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke some ‘very important’ advice

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Tottenham Hotspur haven’t had a great start of the season, with just four points from their opening four Premier League games.

Spurs could’ve easily got nine or ten points by now, but a lack of cutting edge in front of goal and errors at the back have cost them dearly.

Admittedly, the season is still young, but seeing Tottenham fall behind so early on, when compared to some of the other top-four chasers, has been disheartening.

Spurs broke their transfer record to sign Dominic Solanke this summer, and much will be expected of him on the goal front.

Solanke hasn’t got going just yet, although he has sat out two games due to injury. Now he’s available again, the expectations on his shoulders are high.

Gary Lineker has now drawn on his own experiences from his playing career to dispense some valuable advice for the Tottenham newcomer.

Gary Lineker tells Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke not to panic

Lineker, speaking on The Rest Is Football, recalled that he wasn’t prolific in his first few games for both Everton and Tottenham.

However, after Lineker broke his duck for both clubs, the goals started flowing, and he told Solanke that he needs to “just keep getting in there” and not panic.

“A lot will depend on if Solanke can find his feet and, correct, he needs to get his first goal,” said Lineker.

“I mean, a couple of my signings – when I went to Everton I didn’t score in my first three games and you start to think, you’re getting a bit of stick and everyone’s going ‘waste of money’…

“And then suddenly I scored one at Tottenham, one nil we won, then I a got hat-trick and two, suddenly I’m six goals in as many games.

“Similar sort of thing happened at Tottenham, took me four or five games to score but then started scoring.

“So I think it’s very important that, as a striker, you just keep getting in there. Don’t panic, absolutely, it’ll come.”

Why fans should not panic about Solanke situation

As sure as night follows day, critics start circling when a big-money signing up front doesn’t immediately get multiple goals in his first few appearances.

Solanke has only played twice for Tottenham, due to the knock that ruled him out of the Everton and Newcastle games, and it’s not as though he’s been poor.

Alasdair Gold said of Solanke’s North London derby display on football.london: ‘Worked hard from the start and caused problems.

‘Had an early shot blocked. Sent a looping header just past the left-hand post before the half-hour mark.

‘Won the ball back early in the second half and had a header deflected wide.

‘Worked tirelessly and was a strong mobile focal point for Tottenham but the service in to him needs to be better.’

Solanke is proven in the Premier League and he knows what he needs to do. He may still need to find his feet, but surely it won’t be long before he breaks his duck. It’s too early to judge him.