‘Bigger, stronger’… Troy Deeney says £11m player has become better since Tottenham loan exit

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Troy Deeney has given his verdict on Joe Rodon, who is on loan at Leeds United from Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

The former Watford striker and Sky Sports pundit has noted how Rodon has become a better player since leaving Tottenham for Leeds.

So, what has Troy Deeney said about Joe Rodon? Let’s take a look.

Troy Deeney praises Joe Rodon

Well, Leeds United beat Bristol City 1-0 away from home in the Championship last Friday evening.

Joe Rodon started the match for Leeds. The 26-year-old Wales international was deployed in central defence in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Speaking in the build-up to the game, Troy Deeney praised Rodon and noted how the defender has grown and become better at Leeds this season.

Rodon joined Leeds on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023.

The £11 million (Sky Sports) defender has made 26 starts and one substitute appearance in the Championship for the Whites this season.

Deeney said about Rodon on Sky Sports Football (7:33 pm, February 2, 2024), as transcribed by LeedsUnitedNews: “I feel like he has grown up and what I mean by that is, I think he has physically come into himself – bigger, stronger. A big part of my game was to rough centre-halves up so when I played against him he was a bit younger and naïve.

“He has been really good, on the ball. But now adding that steel to his game, know-how, has all come with experience. These things he wasn’t doing 18 months ago. You can see now he’s backing himself, which wasn’t there before. He’s a very good player.”

My View: No future at Tottenham Hotspur for Joe Rodon

In my opinion, Joe Rodon does not have a future at Tottenham Hotspur. I do not see the Wales international centre-back play for the North London club again.

Rodon is under contract at Tottenham until the summer of 2025. I will not be surprised if the North London club decided to cash in on the 26-year-old centre-back at the end of the season.

The defender has made 15 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. He has kept two clean sheets in those games. Ben Davies rates him highly.

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou decided to let Rodon leave on loan at the start of the season. That shows that he does not think that defender has a place in his team.

Spurs signed Ashley Phillips and Micky van de Ven in the summer of 2023 and secured the services of Radu Dragusin in the January transfer window.