Jenas says Tottenham player ‘should be screaming’ at his teammates; not playing to his strengths

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Jermaine Jenas fears that Carlos Vinicius will not make the grade at Tottenham Hotspur unless Jose Mourinho’s side learn to play to the striker’s strengths, as he told BT Sport (18 February, 6pm).

A Europa League last-32 clash away at Wolfsberger AC on Thursday night felt like the epitome of Vincius’s Spurs career.

After coming off the bench at half-time with Spurs three goals to the good in Austria, the Benfica loanee struggled to make any real impression on the tie.

Yet he wasn’t exactly helped by a complete dearth of quality service from wide areas, with the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli wasting presentable opportunities to set him up for a shot on goal.

Jenas feels that, unlike the mercurial Harry Kane or Heung-Min Son, Vinicius needs help from his Tottenham teammates if he is to make a success of his final few months in North London.

“The thing with Carlos Vinicius is, he’s a player who needs to be provided for. He’s not going to create things on his own,” former Spurs midfielder Jenas explained.

“Since he’s come on the pitch, there’s hardly been any crosses into the box. I’ve watched him a lot and I’m still yet to see it from him, but maybe it’s because (Spurs) aren’t playing to his strengths.

“He’s not in the game enough, in most of the games he plays in. He should be screaming at them, saying ‘the reason why I’m not scoring goals or why I’m not in this game is because you’re not playing to my strengths. Get the ball in the box for me!’.”

Vinicius did get his name on the scoresheet eventually as Spurs cruised to a 4-1 first-leg win against Wolfsberger, showcasing those predatory, poacher’s instincts to tap home after Erik Lamela flicked the ball into his path.

“This is where I think Vinicius can be a success. Sometimes, his general play leaves a lot to be desired but, when he’s in the box, he does seem to come to life,” Jenas added.

Vinicius has scored seven goals in 16 games for Spurs – a respectable tally but hardly enough to justifying triggering the £40 million option-to-buy clause in his contract.