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Speed demons: the fastest players to have featured for Tottenham

By Karl Harrington

20 Apr 1999: Jose Dominguez of Tottenham Hotspur is chased by Richard Rufus of Charlton during the FA Carling Premiership match at The Valley in London, England. Tottenham Hotspurs won the game 4-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport
20 Apr 1999: Jose Dominguez of Tottenham Hotspur is chased by Richard Rufus of Charlton during the FA Carling Premiership match at The Valley in London, England. Tottenham Hotspurs won the game 4-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport /
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This week Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, is undergoing trials at Borussia Dortmund. Let’s take the opportunity to look at some speed merchants who have featured for Tottenham over the years.

Moussa Sissoko

Moussa has clocked the third fastest time (35.33 km/h) in the Premier League this season in perhaps a true testament to how misleading stats can be.

Kyle Walker

Walker used to bound up and down the right flank for Spurs like a hunted gazelle through the African plains. Walker’s lightning pace and turbocharged engine meant he could be utilized as an offence threat at one end and almost always get himself out of bother at the other.

Deandre Yedlin

A video of Deandre Yedlin chasing down an opponent surfaced just as the American signed for Spurs. Unfortunately, Yedlin’s stay at the Lane was so rapid that Spurs fans had barely caught a glimpse of the fullback before he vanished out the door.

Gareth Bale

Cascading runs from deep meant that a young Bale was quickly moved into a more advanced role to utilise the Welshman’s brute pace and power.

Gareth’s legs danced like the fingers of the most accomplished pianist in Spurs’ 2010 fixtures against Inter Milan gaining him worldwide acclaim.

Aaron Lennon

Lennon’s milometer could tell many a story from his days in Lillywhite, but perhaps the most salient of all is from Tottenham’s 2011 trip to AC Milan. Lennon burst from well inside his half before leaving Mario Yepes on his rear and sliding it to a clinical Peter Crouch. It proved to be the only goal in the tie and an unforgettable moment for all Spurs fans.

Jose Dominguez

The diminutive dribbler always managed to get the Tottenham faithful on their feet back when the club resided in the lower half of the table. Dominguez’s pace, balletic movements, and astoundingly low centre of gravity meant the pint-sized midfielder could be a full back’s nightmare on his day.

Ralph Coates

Ralph was a pacey and direct winger that could play on either flank. He turned out 188 times for Spurs and is best remembered for scoring the only goal of the game in a League Cup final triumph over Norwich City.

Cliff Jones

Jones scored 159 goals and laid on many more during Spurs’ most prolific period.

Next: More adversity for Harry Winks

Last year a jaunty Cliff still maintained a spring in his step as ‘the jewel in the crown of the 1961 double-winning team, the original Welsh wing wizard’ was introduced to fervent applause during the White Hart Lane farewell ceremony.