Europe’s secondary competition will roll around again in the New Year but there are some Spurs players who might be thankful to be part of it.
When Mauricio Pochettino’s second-string Spurs were torn to shreds by Borussia Dortmund in their round of 16 tie with Borussia Dortmund in March, he did not exactly help the argument that English football clubs do not quite treat the Europa League with the respect it deserves. A European trophy is a European trophy, after all, regardless of whether you play Real Madrid or Sevilla in the final.
Yet, with Tottenham tumbling into this most derided of tournaments, which kicks off once again at around the same time as they step on the Premier League accelerator no less, rotation could once again be the order of the day.
But, while the key men spend their Thursday’s feet up and resting, which Spurs players can follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane in making their name among Europe’s B-list?
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou
After spending weeks desperately trying to dot the I’s on one of the summer’s most complex transfer deals, N’Koudou has hardly repaid the Spurs staff’s faith so far. The 21-year-old, who exploded onto the scene with Marseille last season, has only started once in a Tottenham shirt in 2016. In the EFL Cup to boot.
Yet, the Frenchman’s pace on the counter and rapid dribbling could prove an effective tactic in those tight European away games, while offering him the opportunity to develop free from the physicality of the Premier League.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
With the flat-footed performances of Kevin Wimmer and Eric Dier failing to paper over the cracks exposed by Toby Alderweireld’s two month lay-off, Pochettino may be forced into looking a little further afield than his first-team squad next time an injury crisis strikes. And that should hand an opportunity to an 18-year-old centre-back who has already received an international call up before even making his Premier League debut.
Carter-Vickers, raised in Southend though representative of the USA, has been on the fringes of the first-team for quite some time, with the prospect of European football in the New Year potentially offering the ideal opportunity for him to make his mark.
A shaky display in Spurs’ International Champions Cup defeat to Juventus suggest he has still got a bit of growing up to do but time is very much on the teenager’s side.
Josh Onomah
After making the step up to the seniors last season, big things were expected of the soft-soled Onoma this season. However, with his only starts in 2016/07 restricted to the EFL Cup, it is clear that the 19-year-old still has to convince his manager that he can be trusted on a consistent basis.
Skilful, diminutive and extremely confident with the ball at his feet, Onomah offered tantalising glimpses of his potential during his first start in Spurs’ white – their 4-1 Europa League group stage victory against Monaco. Since then, though, Erik Lamela and Heung-Min Son have raised their game, simultaneously forcing the teenager winger to wait a little while longer for another chance to impress.
But, with Pochettino needing full use of his squad in the coming months, Onomah’s wait should soon be over.
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