Leon Osman told Sky Sports during their live coverage of Tottenham EFL Cup win at Stoke that Harry Winks is a ‘very underrated’ player.
But when the former Everton man was told that Winks, who provided the cross for Gareth Bale to open the scoring, has only supplied three assists in his career, he was left ‘surprised’.
Winks hasn’t been a regular under Jose Mourinho because he has opted to go down the route of playing the more combative and aggressive Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele instead.
But he was offered a start in yesterday’s League Cup quarter-final clash and the Tottenham academy product didn’t disappoint.
“It did [on being surprised by Winks having three assists in his Spurs career],” said Osman. “For a guy who dictates passing, tempo, forward-passes, gets his teammates on the ball in the right position. I was surprised that he hadn’t been directly involved in goals more.
“But a player of his ability is one that starts the move. They find the person who makes the assists. They find the movement and start the rotation of play off.
“He’s a very underrated player is Harry Winks and his manager will appreciate it. Gareth Southgate when he’s been in the team appreciates him and they are the important people for him.”
Winks needs more minutes under his belt this season if he is to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the delayed Euros next summer.
The technician has been in and out of Southgate’s plans since the last major tournament, but at this moment in time, he is being selected.
His style of play is more suited to England than Spurs because the Three Lions play a more possession-based game and he can come into his own in that regard.
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