ESPN reported yesterday that Scott Parker will be out for six weeks, meaning the combative midfielder will most likely be out of action for Tottenham Hotspur’s first six Premier League games
An Achilles issue has once again flared up and Parker is set to undergo surgery as soon as next week.
The news will undoubtedly be badly received by Andre Villas-Boas with the new Spurs manager relying on Sandro to return from International duty, with Brazil at the Olympics, unscathed. Parker was a key component of Tottenham’s midfield dominance in the Premier League last year and age has shown little signs of catching up with the 31 year old.
However Spurs are blessed with a perfect defensive midfield replacement in Sandro and he must take his opportunity to cement a first team place. The Brazilian struggled for starts last season under the rigid rein of Harry Redknapp with Redknapp not one for squad rotation, with a lack of rotation possibly a contributing factor to Parker’s injury. Sandro was given the opportunity to impress in the last few games of the season whilst Parker sat out and took his opportunity well, helping Tottenham escape from their end of season slump.
Many Spurs fans believed that Sandro should have started more games for the team last season, myself included. Whilst Parker kept the play moving with simple and risk free passing, Sandro’s style is more positive and he’s not afraid to take a game by the scruff of the neck. If you need convincing of this take a look at his wonderful strike against Chelsea in the 2010/11 season.
AVB is a known admirer of the high line of defence and this tactic will mean pressing the opposition in their own half when they have the ball, something only achievable through hard working players. Sandro is definitely one of these and the pressure he is able to place on opposition either through giving no room or tackling hard but fair will be key to Tottenham’s successes.
Currently a mainstay in the Brazilian central midfield, Sandro has been attracting interest from all over Europe and Tottenham most certainly will not want to lose another key player in the way that they appear set to lose Luka Modric.
Sandro has been knocking on the first team door for some time now and it appears it has finally been opened. It’s time for Sandro to show the Premier League just what he’s capable of.
image: © crystiancruz
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