Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has heaped praise on Emerson Royal for a "really top" performance in Saturday's FA Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Brazilian defender ran the whole length of the pitch before seeing his effort from a tight angle take a significant deflection off Solly March into the back of the net in a 3-1 fourth-round win.
Emerson has largely struggled to perform on a consistent basis for Spurs since his arrival in the summer, but Conte hopes that Saturday's performance will prove to be a turning point for the right-back.
Speaking to reporters in his post-match press conference, Conte said: "He needed this goal - his performance was really top tonight. He played very well.
"Don't forget Emerson is only 23 years old. To come over here and play in another league is not simple. But he is a good player and knows there's a lot of space for improvement. To score a goal is important for his confidence."
Harry Kane was on target twice as the Lilywhites cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup, as Yves Bissouma pegged one back for the Seagulls.
Ben Knapton
