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Glenn Hoddle picked out midfielder Giovani Lo Celso as a real positive from Tottenham’s victory over Royal Antwerp on Thursday night in the Europa League.

Jose Mourinho’s side recorded a routine 2-0 win at home to progress to the Europa League Round of 32 as Group J winners, which means they will be seeded for the knockout draw that takes place on Monday.

Carlos Vinicius tapped the ball into the net with a simple finish for Spurs’ opener after a long-range free-kick from Gareth Bale was kept out of the top corner.

Meanwhile, Lo Celso was set up by substitute Harry Kane for the important second goal, as he showed his composure with a delicate finish with the outside of his boot.

The 24-year-old deserved to get on the scoresheet after an extremely promising display that saw him at the heart of their creativity going forward, plus he didn’t shy away from his defensive work.

He is a left-footed Argentine hoping to nail down a permanent spot in the starting XI and right now it looks like he’s in a battle with Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele for a spot in a two-man midfield just in front of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

“His all-round game was excellent tonight,” Hoddle told BT Sport 2 (10:12pm, 10 December).

“It really was one that you think actually he could go into that Premier League side and improve it, at least not take it down.

“He might improve it in different ways because he is a good footballer, plays with his head up, and puts his foot in as well, works back. I think he’s done himself the world of good tonight.”

TBR’s View:

Lo Celso is an attack-minded central midfielder that has five goals in just 16 appearances so far this season in all competitions and that’s without being a regular starter in the side.

It looks a hard task to break up a midfield trio of Sissoko, Ndombele and Hojbjerg right now, as there appears to be a perfect combination in the centre of the pitch and they are all in-form.

But Lo Celso did get the nod to start in the North London victory over Arsenal and has certainly got the ability to be a mainstay in the XI.