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Toby Alderweireld has marked himself out as one of the finest ball-playing defenders in Europe in recent seasons.
His long, raking passes have been a key weapon in Spurs’ attacking arsenal and it is high time that he is considered for a role further forward.
On the chalkboard
Spurs have struggled immensely with injury issues this season.
At one point, Mauricio Pochettino could call on Harry Winks and 18-year-old Oliver Skipp as his senior central midfield options. Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and Dele Alli were all on the treatment table.
Alderweireld, then, should be considered as a potential emergency option in midfield.
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He has been almost ever-present in the Premier League this season, missing just two games – against Newcastle United and Arsenal.
He is a Rolls-Royce of a defender, repeatedly winning tackles and keeping possession, but his passing is such that he can be an excellent asset in midfield.
Indeed, in his last 10 games, his passing accuracy has never dipped below 85 per cent and peaked at 96.1 per cent in the 3-1 defeat to Wolves.
Such is his reading of the game, he can easily sit in as a defensive midfielder, and allow Winks to move further forward – he has been playing in a more withdrawn role but deserves the freedom to affect the play in the final third.
Emergency measures
Of course, Pochettino would rather have every midfielder available to him in his squad.
Moussa Sissoko and Winks have been in excellent form thus far this season but Spurs have struggled to get Dier or Wanyama fit for any period of time.
Alderweireld offers an excellent option, with Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez able to fill in in defence in behind him.
Both players are so good defensively that they will be able to mop up any potential mistakes made by the Belgium international but it is, naturally, nothing more than a fall-back option.
Nevertheless, it should be kept in Pochettino’s back pocket, in case another injury crisis befalls his midfield.