Has Serge Aurier turned a corner at Tottenham Hotspur?

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier may be in it for the long haul after all.

The Ivory Coast international has been speaking to football.london about a number of different topics, and it really does suggest there’s a new-found maturity about him.

Aurier arrived in north London last year after completing a £23 million move from Paris Saint-Germain.

This was shortly after his two-month suspended jail sentence for assaulting a police officer was appealed and downgraded.

He also got into hot water for the use of homophobic language during a Periscope Q&A.

Last season Aurier concerned some supporters with his rash nature, with some worried about him potentially costing points.

This season it’s a different story, with Aurier having shone in the two games he has played.

It would appear that the full-back is at peace with himself following the recent birth of his daughter.

‘The best man plays’

Aurier spoke about his prospects for this season, and gave a refreshingly mature response.

The former Toulouse man, behind Kieran Trippier in the pecking order, said: “For me this is a fight, but it’s a good fight. There’s nothing bad. Whether it’s me, Trips or Kyle [Walker-Peters], it’s all good. They’re very, very good players. The decision is not our decision, it’s the gaffer’s.

“For me it’s no problem, the best man plays. That is football my friend. The gaffer doesn’t play someone because he likes him. He picks someone because it’s better for one of us to play.

“I prefer to be on the pitch all the time of course but I know it’s not possible.

“I’ll take my time and when the gaffer says I play I play.”

New season, new Aurier?

It’s a great response from Aurier, who has clearly been doing some growing up.

He understands that there are no agendas.

Mauricio Pochettino will choose the man who is best equipped to carry out what he wants. Perhaps the old Aurier wouldn’t have stood for that.

You can already see, in the two games that he has started, a big improvement in the defender’s game.

Spurs lost to Inter but he was the standout performer.

It’s never been a question of ability with Aurier. Perhaps Spurs have a potential top class full-back on their hands if he can remain focused and headstrong. He’ll certainly stick around if he can do that, after many had already written him off.