Jermain Defoe has claimed that Eric Dier is looking ‘lean’ in Antonio Conte’s system at Tottenham Hotspur after their 4-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.
The former striker, who is set to join Spurs as an academy coach, added that Dier needs to score more goals for the club after he netted on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
It was a Harry Kane-Esque header from the hard-hitting centre-back, who timed his run to perfection, before glancing the ball into the back of the net following a wicked cross from Son Heung-min.
That was Dier’s first goal in three years, as one of the more fancied teams this season, started life for the 2022/23 campaign in an emphatic fashion.
Added with Dier’s positive display over the weekend, January signing Dejan Kulusevski continued where he left off from the previous campaign.
The Sweden international assisted the equalising goal for Ryan Sessegnon, before showcasing his clinical left foot to the crowd once more when he scored in the second half, as Defoe was left impressed, as he told Premier League Productions (06/08/22 at 5:10 pm)
“The ball is brilliant (for Kulusevski’s assist),” said Defoe. “The ball goes out wide, there is only one thing on his mind, to get on his left foot and whip it across what I like to call that red zone.
“It’s a great delivery. The keeper has come and he can’t do anything about it. And it’s good movement and timing by Sessegnon, he gets there and scores from that.
Defoe on Dier: “It’s a great goal. He should be scoring more because of his presence. But he looks confident and he looks lean in that system. It’s so perfect for him. I am sure he will get more goals.”
ENGLAND WORLD CUP CALL FOR ERIC DIER?
Months before Euro 2022, Dier’s form hit a bit of a brick wall and he found himself out of Gareth Southgate’s plans, and then, missing on the squad that reached the final of Euro 2022.
Since then, he hasn’t been picked by the England boss, even though his form has picked up, especially under Antonio Conte’s stewardship.
The 2022 World Cup is around the corner and many players across Europe will be doing everything they can to earn that plane ticket to Qatar.
Harry Kane is a certainty for the Three Lions, but his Tottenham teammate at the back isn’t, as it’s perhaps high time Southgate selected him because he deserves a recall.
There is only one international break before the 2022 World Cup and it would raise big questions if Dier isn’t in that squad named by Southgate.
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