‘Maybe there’s hope for this player’: BBC pundit blown away by 25-year-old’s display in Tottenham win

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Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that he had written Davinson Sanchez off before Tottenham Hotspur’s win over Norwich City, but now feels that the centre-back has a chance of turning his career around under Antonio Conte.

Sanchez was one of those who featured in the ill-fated Europa Conference League tie with Mura. For many involved that night, it appeared that it may be a long way back under Conte.

However, he did start against Brentford in midweek. And he held onto his place for Sunday’s game against the Canaries.

It proved to be a successful occasion for Tottenham. They beat Dean Smith’s side 3-0, with Sanchez slamming home the second goal during the second-half.

Spurs have now kept three clean sheets in four Premier League games under Conte. And the Italian felt compelled to laud Ben Davies after the full-time whistle.

But Crooks suggested that it was Sanchez’s performance in that backline that caught his eye.

“I saw this lad have a shocker in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat in Slovenia in the Europa Conference League,” he told BBC Sport.

“At the time I thought that Antonio Conte wouldn’t play the defender again in anything remotely resembling a serious fixture. 

“However the player returned for the match against Norwich (not the most demanding game) and not only played his part in a defensive unit that kept a valuable clean sheet, but scored the goal that put the game well beyond the Canaries. 

“Maybe there’s hope for this player under Conte after all.”

Sanchez still has plenty to prove before Tottenham fans are convinced

Tottenham fans know how good Sanchez can be. There have been plenty of occasions when he has looked a class act.

However, his issue has sometimes been finding that level on a consistent basis. It is easy to forget that he was outstanding in the opening weeks of the season before struggling.

It would be a huge boost for Conte if he can get the best of Sanchez over a longer period. He already appears to be well on his way to transforming Davies.

Sanchez is now hinting that he could be about to follow in his footsteps.