Robert Vilahamn: Tottenham striker's impressive form 'will return'

Robert Vilahamn has said he hopes Tottenham striker Martha Thomas can return to form as they prepare to face Aston Villa in the Women's League Cup this weekend.

The 28-year-old made waves upon her arrival in the summer of 2023 from Manchester United, scoring six goals in her first month in Lilywhite. However, the Scottish striker is yet to score in the 2024/25 Women's Super League (WSL) campaign, with her last goal coming against Arsenal back in December 2023.

90min asked the Tottenham boss about her lack of form, as well as whether conversations are being had behind closed doors about her recent performances.

"When you give a player trust and they play well but they don't score goals, then after a few games it's another one knocking on the door wanting to play," Vilahamn commented. "Then it's about when you make a change, and when you do that change then they can start to lose self confidence. It becomes a bit of a bad circle until you get through it and score a few goals again.

"We had two really good talks with Martha this week about scenarios and why she didn't play too much last game [against Arsenal]. She looked good in training, so it's a tough thing, but it's also a good thing to go through tough periods as well. I have the strongest belief that she can come back and score those goals for us, because to be honest we need those goals as well."

Thomas has been nothing short of superb when on international duty, scoring in both of Scotland's victories against Hungary during the October break. Vilahamn was certain to note this claiming "it's about how she can find her self confidence, because in the national team she has it." He added: "We need to find ways so she can get to the same spaces in our team and score those goals."

The number nine position may be Tottenham's most competitive on the field, with Beth England and Jessica Naz often receiving a place in the starting lineup over Thomas so far this season.

"It's very hard as a coach to find a way to just give the trust because you have to have the competition as well," Vilahamn explained. "Martha is a player and a character that you want to have on the pitch, so that's why sometimes you move her to different positions because you can use her and she is stronger than other players in those roles.

"But then of course, you don't get the goals all of the time. In the perfect world, you don't have that and she plays like last season when she just scores goals all of the time. When you are a bit lower as a team, then you need to find ways."

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