Tottenham 2017-18 player preview: Ben Davies

Becoming an important member of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting 11, Ben Davies filled in expertly for the injured Danny Rose last season and will be expected to perform as consistently in 2017-18.

Davies wasn’t expected to get much first-team match time last season. That was until Danny Rose suffered an injury to his medial knee ligaments against Sunderland, which has kept the Englishman out of Tottenham’s lineup since January.

And so stepped in Davies, whose presence on the pitch became more important as the weeks transpired. Davies ended up playing 23 matches, five more than his injured left-back counterpart, and was integral in Spurs’ continued success.

The least technically gifted of all Spurs’ wing backs, Davies goes about his business in a modest, yet effective way. Tottenham lost only two matches with Davies in the first team, his defensive assuredness contributing to Spurs allowing a paltry 10 times in 15 his starts.

A traditional left back in the purest sense of the position’s definition, Davies is the most naturally defensive minded of all Tottenham’s wing backs. And he’s not too shabby in possession either. The Welshman undoubtedly pales in comparison to Rose’s foot speed and technical nous, but he distributes the ball accurately and rarely takes unnecessary touches. He can also swing a spring-loaded cross, causing discomfort for opposing defenders.

Davies superior qualities

Davies physical prowess and aerial ability – on both sides of the ball – is far superior to Rose’s, the Welshman providing an extra weapon on set pieces and corners. He’ll have a big part to play in the 2017-18 season, even when Rose finally returns from his extended injury absence. Rose isn’t expected back until October, so Davies must start this campaign the same way he ended the last.

And while Davies isn’t expected to contribute offensively as much as most of his teammates, he chipped in with three assists last season. That’s one more than Rose had, albeit in five extra matches.

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The 24-year-old endured a few tough outings in 2016-17, one of which came in his homeland against a fervent Swansea side. The Swans took advantage of a laggard Davies, but those sort of difficult days are an exception to the rule.

The big question is what will become of Davies once Rose is fighting fit. Rose is unarguably Spurs’ first-choice left back. Will Davies fade into the background, chipping in as a bit-part substitute? Or does another role await the feisty defender?

The former is probably true, but if results go according to plan there will be enough matches to keep the unflappable Welshman occupied.

Expect the perpetuity of Davies’ defensive steadiness to continue this season, with the stand-in left-back solidifying an already stingy Spurs’ back line.