RANDAL KOLO MUANI is hoping his jaw protector helps him become Tottenham’s North London Derby hero.
The French forward has had a tough start to his Spurs career since completing his season-long loan switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
Muani, 26, has already missed 12 games for Tottenham in comparison to the five that he was out for during his two years with parent Club PSG.
However, the Spurs striker returns to action for arguably the club’s highly anticipated fixture on the calendar – the North London Derby against bitter rivals Arsenal.
But Muani is sporting a completely different look from how he was before the international break.
Why is Randal Kolo Muani wearing a jaw protector?
Kolo Muani suffered a fractured jaw during the first half of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
The French forward collided aerially with Harry Maguire, which then led to him being substituted at half-time.
Scans on November 9 confirmed a fracture of the lower jaw, and it was described as “more serious than expected.”
Despite no surgery being required, early estimates suggested that Muani would need a 6-8 week recovery, which would have sidelined him until late December or early January.
However, in a huge twist, the Spurs star returned to training wearing a specifically fitted protective mask.
And this is the same mask that he is wearing for today’s huge derby against bitter rivals Arsenal.