'A crossroads in Bissouma’s career'

Football clubs often fail to dish out real punishments to their players over poor behaviour, but Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham have got tough with Yves Bissouma.

The midfielder has been given an internal one-match suspension for filming himself on social media taking laughing gas, which is illegal in the United Kingdom.

Bissouma is still training with the squad but has been told in no uncertain terms that he fell short of the club’s professional standards and will be unavailable for the upcoming game away at Leicester on Monday night.

Interestingly, this is the fourth suspension Bissouma has received under Postecoglou after two red cards and a ban for accumulating five yellow cards last season.

In his press conference, Postecoglou said: "That's the club's sanction, irrespective of that sanction it's still allowing Biss to understand the poor decision he made and the ramifications of that. I will deal with that as we move along. In terms of the club sanction it is one game suspended.”

These comments also set a wider tone at the beginning of the season that standards, both on and off the pitch, must be met.

Postecoglou said there is now pressure on Bissouma to behave perfectly and “regain trust” from now on. He also has a big fight for his place after splitting minutes with Pape Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall in midfield during pre-season, with Rodrigo Bentancur having not been available until the last match after Copa America.

This is a crossroads in Bissouma’s career and it will be on him to respond positively or he risks fading away.