TBR View: Jose Mourinho should give Tottenham 29-year-old extended run out of XI

Add as preferred source on Google

If you look at the way Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has used his squad this season, you’ll see that he’s rotated frequently and given most a fair chance.

Unfortunately, the same faces have been letting Spurs down when in the team, so it’s time to give some youngsters a run in the side.

Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon are two fringe figures, but deserve more game time after both impressed in a win over Aston Villa before the international break.

Mourinho has been extremely loyal to Spurs centre-back Eric Dier for a large chunk of the season, but his inconsistent form lead to him being dropped recently.

Dier, 27, has now been benched for the last five consecutive league matches, which is a clear message from the manager that his standards have dipped too low.

Mourinho should now give Spurs teammate Matt Doherty the Dier treatment by dropping him from the XI for a sustained period.

Doherty, who earn £65,000-a-week (Spotrac), has been given plenty of opportunities to impress with 27 appearances across all competitions so far.

But the 29-year-old right-back has had a miserable first season with the north London club.

His summer arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers was expected to massively improve Spurs in the full-back area, but he’s been in and out of the team.

His latest performances have shown he’s still well off the pace as he tries to adjust to playing in a back four, so Mourinho should give him the Dier treatment by leaving him out of the XI for a period of games.

It’s a method that can go one of two ways.

A run out of the team gives a player time to reflect, as well as motivation to improve their individual game. Alternatively, it will show they don’t belong at the top level.

If Doherty can work hard behind the scenes for the remainder of the season, perhaps his second year can be far more fruitful with the club.