‘He can do everything’: Cristian Stellini stunned by absolutely ‘great’ £14.5m Tottenham midfielder

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Tottenham assistant manager Cristian Stellini has sung the praises of young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr before the clash with Portsmouth.

Stellini took the press conference ahead of the start of Spurs’ FA Cup campaign following the death of Antonio Conte’s former Juventus team-mate Gianluca Vialli.

Sarr came on a substitute against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace and may well be in line to start the game against the League 1 outfit.

When asked about the £14.5 million man, Stellini was effusive in his comments but said the Senegal international has to be patient.

Stellini hails Sarr

Stellini said: “He’s a very young player and it’s the first time he came to England. One year experience in Ligue 1. About the skill he can do everything.

“Great player with many possibilities to play in many different positions. I spoke in the last press conference about the way you have to wait with young players.

“With Pape, Antonio decided this moment that he’s ready to play. We work a lot on the body position and he showed the desire to improve and this is very important because you can work with them.

“With Pape it was very easy, but we have a hierarchy and he has to respect that.”

The game against Portsmouth looks like a good chance for Sarr to get a start and for some of Spurs’ more experienced players to get a rest.

That will be a physical test for Sarr, but he has played at the World Cup so he should have the right mentality to go and take the next step.

Perhaps the World Cup has handed Conte the chance to work with some of his talented young players and bring them into the first team picture.