Son Heung-min scored his 100th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 defeat of Leeds United to climb back into the Premier League’s top four on Saturday.

The South Korean doubled Tottenham’s tally just before the interval after strike partner Harry Kane’s penalty had given the hosts the lead on a crisp winter day in north London.

Toby Alderweireld’s header made it 3-0 in the 50th minute.

Tottenham, who topped the table in December, had gone four league games without a win, but a comfortable victory over Leeds sent them into third spot with 29 points from 16 games.

The only blemish was having defender Matt Doherty dismissed in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Leeds had enjoyed the better chances until Kane’s 29th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul on Steven Bergwijn. But Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s hopes of starting the year with a third consecutive win were dashed as their defensive frailties returned.

They remain in mid-table with 23 points from 17 games.

“The three points are very important. I think we understood well how they could hurt us and how we could hurt them. In that aspect I am happy but I still think we can and have to do better,” Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said.

But Tottenham got a helping hand when Ezgjan Alioski clipped Steven Bergwijn just inside the area and referee David Coote pointed to the spot.

Kane stepped up to dispatch the penalty past Illan Meslier for his 10th league goal of the season.

Tottenham doubled their lead thanks to the country’s most lethal duo.

Kane did well on the right and whipped in an instinctive pass for Son to sweep home a first-time effort to notch up his century for the club in all competitions.

Incredibly, it was the 13th time they have combined for a Tottenham goal in the Premier League this season, equalling the record set by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton for Blackburn Rovers in the 1994-95 season.

Trio condemned

Tottenham condemned the actions of Erik Lamela, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon after the trio breached Covid-19 protocols to attend a Christmas party. Pictures on social media showed the three Spurs players together at a party along with West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini.

“We are extremely disappointed and strongly condemn this image showing some of our players with family and friends together at Christmas,” a Spurs spokesperson said in a statement.