The misfiring striker should have another opportunity to finally find the net from open play in the FA Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad selection for Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Manchester City on Saturday spoke volumes about Vincent Janssen’s first season in English football.
In one of the most significant games of the season so far, a daunting away trip to a bona fide top four rival, the Dutchman was completely omitted from the match day squad.
It is over two months since he last started a Premier League fixture, with even the hectic festive schedule failing to convince Pochettino that Janssen should be handed more than one minute against Southampton and seven against Chelsea.
In fact, the last time he played from the off in Spurs colours he was hooked on the hour mark against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Tottenham improved immediately in his absence.
Therefore, Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash against Wycombe Wanderers has a distinctly ‘make or break’ feel about it for the £17 million striker (BBC) still yet to find the net from open play and who, according to the Daily Mail, turned down a move to Galatasaray earlier this month.
If snatching at one-on-ones and ballooning sitters is not concerning enough, Janssen has become increasingly isolated in recent games, seemingly unable to sniff out goal-scoring opportunities and departing the pitch without a single clear cut chance to his name.
However, if Janssen extends his goalless run to nine games against League Two opposition, you wonder how much patience Pochettino has left.
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