One to watch for Spurs: Vincent Janssen
Being second-choice is never an appealing prospect and in joining Tottenham Hotspur at the start of last season, Vincent Janssen took on an almighty challenge.
After a campaign where he finished as the Eredivisie’s top goalscorer, lofty names such as Paris St Germain, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid were linked with a move for the Dutch striker but White Hart Lane proved his destination.
However much he may have arrived with intentions of forcing his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice XI, it was always going to take something special to overhaul the prolific Harry Kane, the England star already established as one the Premier League’s deadliest hitmen.
Thusly, Janssen took until October 29 to score his first Premier League goal, which came from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw with Leicester, and he found the net just seven times, despite managing 41 appearances.
But during the recent international break, the Spurs striker, who turns 23 next week, has scored three times in three matches for the Netherlands.
Against the Ivory Coast on Sunday, Janssen was forced to concede defeat in a disagreement with Arjen Robben as the pair squabbled over who should take a first-half penalty but the Bayern Munich star viewed the Tottenham man’s ‘greed’ as a plus point.
“I think Vincent is just very greedy and that is only right,” said Robben.
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“He needs goals and confidence. A striker is judged by his goals, but I think he is very important for the team.
“He works, drag is strong in the combination, and used well his body.”
That greed is something Janssen will have to channel if he is to make the most of his opportunities at Tottenham and make the transition from bit-part player to an important member of Pochettino’s team.
Sticking it out
The Spurs man hasn’t exactly shot down speculation linking him with a move to pastures new with his comments during the international break.
“I initially found it difficult with my role as a substitute, sometimes sitting in the stands at Spurs, but I learned to deal with it,” he said.
“As a young player, I had to compete with Harry Kane – the top scorer of the Premier League, arguably the toughest league in the world – and a striker who is performing remains in the team.
“That [my future] is a matter for after the holidays. I want the prospect of more playing time, but otherwise, I’m now better keeping my mouth shut.”
Many frontmen have failed to add the depth that Tottenham require to back up or even complement his talisman Kane – just ask Roberto Soldado – but whether Janssen ultimately succeeds in North London may just come down to if he has the stomach for it.
