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Mousa Dembele key for Tottenham Hotspur, says Ray Parlour

Belgium's Mousa Dembele in action with Republic of Ireland's Wes Hoolahan (REUTERS)
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Tottenham Hotspur host Bayer Leverkusen at Wembley tonight.

Ray Parlour has told talkSPORT that Mousa Dembele is the player who makes Tottenham Hotspur tick.

He may not always get the praise, but the stocky Belgian midfielder was one of Tottenham’s best players last term, in a season which might have yielded a Premier League title had things gone a little differently.

Between injury and suspension, the 29-year-old has missed so much of Spurs’ season but he has started their last two league outings, and could do so again in tonight’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen at Wembley – their adopted home in European competition.

Bournemouth's Dan Gosling in action with Tottenham's Mousa Dembele

Mauricio Pochettino’s side go into tonight’s encounter on the back of a five-match winless streak in all competitions, with Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester being their latest setback.

Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld have already been ruled out, which are big misses at opposite ends of the field, but Parlour has says that Dembele is the man who makes things happen for the Lilywhites from midfield.

He told talkSPORT: “Dembele’s a big player for me. I mean, he’s the one who can really make them tick in midfield.

Bournemouth's Dan Gosling in action with Tottenham's Mousa Dembele

“Spurs have to go out there and be confident, believe they can get a result. And if they can get the result tonight, it puts them in a decent position to get through to the last 16.”

Tottenham are one point behind Group E leaders Monaco and one point ahead of third-placed Leverkusen ahead of tonight’s contest.

Tottenham's Mousa Dembele in action with Bournemouth's Jack Wilshere