Tottenham are in the mix for a Champions League spot after four consecutive Premier League victories over the Christmas period.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were unbeaten in the league all the way up to November 26, where they lost their 13th game of the campaign 2-1 away at leaders Chelsea.

However, this didn’t derail Spurs too much and, although they did lose 1-0 at Manchester United a fortnight later, they have won four of their five matches since that defeat at Stamford Bridge.

It means that Tottenham are third in the table at the start of 2017 after thumping Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road this afternoon, so another top four finish, having secured third spot last season, is certainly on for Pochettino’s men.

Although they bowed out of the Champions League earlier than they would have hoped this season, 2016 has been a decent year for Spurs, which has seen them go from struggling to finish in the top six to genuine title contenders.

And, with the year coming to a close, we thought we’d take a look back at Spurs’ year, and have thus selected their THREE most improved players of 2016…

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min did a pretty good job in lessening the workload and expectation on Harry Kane’s shoulders at the start of the season.

The South Korean international was close to leaving Spurs over the summer, but was given a chance to shine by Pochettino at the start of the campaign, and he didn’t fail to deliver.

Braces against Stoke and Middlesbrough back in September demonstrated a player who had been reborn over the summer, and further goals against CSKA Moscow and Swansea, as well as a few assists in between, has given Pochettino another forward option.

Son did have a dry spell through November, but a fine finish in the 4-1 win over Southampton last week was indicative of a player high in confidence and one improving ahead of 2017.

Danny Rose

All 12 of Danny Rose’s England caps have come in 2016, which says all you need to know about his fantastic year.

The 26-year-old had never really nailed down a place in the Spurs team since moving there in 2007, but the last few seasons, and indeed this year specifically, has seen the left-back grow into one of the best in the division.

Rose is undoubtedly England’s number one left-back at present, and Spurs look a better side when he is marauding forward and getting balls into the box.

2016 has been a staggering improvement from a player who this time last year was behind the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand in the England pecking order.

Kyle Walker

Although not as meteoric an improvement as that of Rose, it’s clear that Kyle Walker is a better player now than he was 12 months ago.

The 26-year-old looked set to be England’s number one right-back when he played five times in 2013, but he endured a miserable 2014/15 campaign, which saw him play just 15 times in the Premier League for Spurs, and make just three appearances for England.

However, Walker has come back a much-improved defender, and made 33 appearances for Pochettino’s side last season in their run to third in the Premier League.

Walker was also one of a select few players who performed well for England at Euro 2016, and he has transferred those good showings into this current season, where he has four assists from 18 league starts.

Like Rose, Spurs look a better side when these two get down the flanks and whip balls into the box, and you’ll struggle to find a better set of full-backs in the Premier League currently than these two.