Has Tottenham’s Juan Foyth earned a Premier League start?

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Juan Foyth of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Newport County at Wembley Stadium on February 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Juan Foyth of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Newport County at Wembley Stadium on February 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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Juan Foyth’s playing time has been limited to cup competitions so far this season, but with whispers of Toby Alderweireld departing could the young Argentine step up to the plate?

Last Thursday news broke that made Spurs fans wince harder than the time Phil Babb’s manhood collided with the Anfield posts. Contract negotiations between Toby Alderweireld and the club, which have been ongoing for over a year, had again ended in stalemate.

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Should the Belgian part company with Spurs in the summer it is unlikely that Mr. Levy would attempt to find an out and out replacement.

Even if he could source a defender as established as Toby his signature would surely cost the club as much as a whole wing of their new stadium.

The majority of last summer’s expenditure was on defenders. Spurs coped well without Toby’s services after he pulled up with a hamstring injury against Real Madrid back in early November. The versatile Eric Dier dropped back whenever needed, while Juan Foyth moved one place up in the pecking order.

Could Foyth step up?

At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking that a scouting report on Foyth by Sam Tighe had in fact been written about Alderweirled:

"“His longer passing has got better and better, and he can now switch the point of attack with accuracy and speed.”"

But the report likens him not to Toby, but to Manchester City’s John Stones. As the vernacular of English football flees from the ‘if in doubt, kick it out’ mentality and heaps praise a more continental style, Stones perhaps epitomizes a new coveted breed of centre back.

The report particularly highlights Foyth’s composure and adventurous nature which fans have witnessed in his cameo appearances so far for Spurs:

"“He is ludicrously confident, looking like someone straight out of Barcelona’s La Masia complex, embarking on dribbles out of his defensive line and into midfield seemingly at least five times per game. He can shift the ball from foot to foot to evade pressing and shuttle forward rather impressively.”"

Foyth in action

Foyth’s debut came in Tottenham’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win against Barnsley. He used his first opportunity to showcase poise and confidence Spurs knew he had when the club decided to purchase the youngster.

However, Tottenham’s next fixture in the competition was not as comfortable an outing. Andy Carroll and co. provided Foyth with a tough lesson, as a calamitous second saw Spurs blow a 2-0 lead.

Foyth has been a constant figure in Spurs’ FA Cup escapades, too. He was the club’s solitary positive note from an underwhelming performance at Newport County. To play in front of a volatile Rodney Parade crowd must have been a culture shock for the young Argentinean, but Foyth coped better than Jan Vertonghen and Dier, his more experienced counterparts.

The same could be said about yesterday’s trip to Rochdale. Foyth looked unperturbed in possession, always making himself available and willing to take it forward; while Toby put in an uncharacteristically shaky performance.

Divided opinion

But Foyth is far from the archetypal centre half, and his style can rouse polarized opinion, just as Sam Tighe’s report suggest.

"“He’ll be some managers’ cups of tea, but most certainly not others. Certain fanbases will take to him, others will endure heart palpitations every time he attempts to dribble around a striker with 40 yards of clear space behind him.”"

Next: Pochettino can’t trust fringe players

Fans won’t have a true indication of what path Foyth’s future in Lilywhite will take until he is thrown into a Premier League match. And should Toby depart in the summer that chance will surely come sooner rather than later.