DANSO'S NOW A CONVERT TO PREM BATTLE

KEVIN DANSO could have been a rugby star - which is why Tottenham's new cult hero enjoys the rough and tumble of Premier League battles.

- BY MIKE WALTERS

The Austrian international succumbed to the scrum of all fears as Erling Haaland had the last laugh in Manchester City's 1-0 win.

But Danso, who grew up in Milton Keynes and was courted by several rugby-playing public schools to become an egg-chaser, is now making his mark as a robust centre-back.

The on-loan Lens defender (top), whose move will become a permanent £21million deal in the summer, was soothing his bruises with an ice pack after Spurs fell just short of the unique achievement of beating both Manchester United and City three times in the same season.