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Don Hutchison has singled out Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a negative way ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.

Spurs signed the 25-year-old in the summer window, arriving for £15million (Sky Sports) from league rivals Southampton.

He’s quickly established himself as a nailed-on starter in Jose Mourinho’s team and is already a fan favourite on top of that.

Despite the fact Spurs sit top of the league table, ESPN pundit Hutchison has given a critical verdict of him:

“When you see Tottenham play they don’t really convince you. Hojbjerg is not one of the best midfield players, even though he is doing a very good job. Everton bopped him off the pitch in match day one he couldn’t get a kick,” Hutchison told ESPN.

But Hojbjerg has played every minute in the league so far and clearly has the backing of Mourinho, who was extremely complimentary of him earlier in the season:

“Fantastic player and a player the team needs… Pierre is a good player and a good leader and he’s a captain without the armband. He’s a guy who doesn’t need the armband like he had in Southampton to influence other people. Very brave,” Mourinho said in October.

TBR’s View:

Aside from attacking duo Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, Hojbjerg has arguably been the best performer in the Spurs team during the first quarter of the season and has been a brilliant signing for them.

It’s too early in the season to start putting him in the bracket for the division’s best defensive midfielders, but if his form continues into the New Year he certainly will be and he’s barely put a foot wrong.

He’s a leader on the pitch that has slotted in effortlessly to the midfield, with his presence in front of the defence allowing others around him to thrive, especially Tanguy Ndombele.