When Tottenham return to club action after the international break, the first test that Mauricio Pochettino’s side face is an away trip to West Ham’s London Stadium, which is never an easy place to go, and with the rivalry between Spurs and West Ham, it makes it even harder.
However, it’s a ground that the Lilywhites have had a lot of good fortune at before, and they’ve come away with three wins in their last three games against the Hammers. To keep that run going, though, Pochettino might have to freshen up his side and make some changes.
One of those changes, we’re suggesting, should be in midfield. We’ve already seen the likes of Moussa Sissoko, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks show off what they can do in the middle of the park for the Lilywhites, but could it be time to give one youngster his first start of the season in the Premier League?
The man we’re talking about is obviously young Oliver Skipp. The 19-year-old has started one game this season, the 0-0 draw against Colchester in the Carabao Cup that led to the club’s early exit from the tournament on penalties, however, that poor result was hardly down to Skipp.
Returning to The London Stadium this season will bring positive memories for Skipp, it was of course at West Ham’s home ground that he made his senior Spurs debut (Transfermarkt), coming off the bench for six minutes of a Carabo Cup win last season, and giving him another chance to shine, albeit for longer than six minutes this time, sounds like a good idea.
The argument for giving Skipp a chance is a clear one. We’ve barely seen the youngster in action for the club, and with the likes of Ndombele, Winks and Sissoko coming back from travelling with their countries and playing games the youngster will be the freshest option of the four.
Is Tanguy Ndombele our best midfielder?
Yes!
No!
Then there’s the fact that with both West Ham and Spurs struggling for form as of late, freshening things up with a young energetic face surely can’t be more harm than good, even if things aren’t working, the option is always there for Winks et al off the bench, and Skipp has to get his chance in the league at some point.