International commitments could make it very hard for Erik Lamela to start for Spurs against Stoke, leaving Mauricio Pochettino with a selection issue.
Lamela has started the season in bright form, already having both scored and assisted goals in the opening three games. Now he looks set to start for Argentina in their match against Venezuela, which kicks off at 1am on Wednesday morning.
The 24-year old then faces a ten-hour flight home on Thursday, giving him little rest before Saturday’s trip to Stoke.
If Pochettino decides that Lamela is too tired to start against Stoke, allowing him to rest before the midweek Champions League match against Monaco, both Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son are in the frame to replace him.
New signing Sissoko could start wide on the right as a direct replacement for Lamela, having impressed in that position with France at Euro 2016. The other option is to give Son his first start of the season, with the South Korean already very fit after playing a number of international games during August.
That could allow Sissoko to move into central midfield alongside either Eric Dier or Victor Wanyama. Whatever Pochettino decides, one thing is clear. Tottenham’s squad now looks a lot healthier and more full of possibilities than it did just a few days ago.
And when Spurs get a decent result, perhaps Lamela could be rested long term.
Brian you want to rest one of our best players long term??? Are you mad or do you just not know how the beautiful game is played?
2015-16 PL
1 goal in 5 games
Lost nearly 70% of duels
Yellow card every three games
A fraction of *successful*passes of some other players
If he is one of our best players, we have not got a hope.
Yes he has improved – he could not have got much worse. It is not his fault we paid a silly price for him. Nonetheless, he is not a first team PL player. A squad player yes, and can do well against lesser opposition. Looks lost many times.
I am interested over a season or two, not three games.
He is so overrated certainly a little improved but still holding on to the ball to long and making stupid unforced turn overs i believe if Son gets as much PT he would be a much better player than him
Lamela is still half the player, someone like modric was for us.
Due to his improvement and commitment it’s only right to give him his dues. One of our best players though, I think that’s debatable. Still makes ridiculous decisions with the ball and gets so much wrong when it seems harder to fuck up a simple pass. No pace and offers zero width. If we are to acknowledge his strengths , so should we comment on his weaknesses
I like the guy, gives his all and has improved his game considerably.
I agree with Dave and Harry Kane. The most skillful player in the Spurs squad. Lets face it he would not be playing for Argentine if he was useless. Huge improvement since his first season. He also gives his all and runs for 90 minutes.
I for one very much think he is underated so much ?
We all need to give him time – after all Rome wasn’t built in a single day!
Some of us our too quick to judge, let the season continue 1st. He’s decent enough after all, we all have strengths and weaknesses, get behind him and be positive not against him and be negative.