For the first time since the first international break when Spurs were still unbeaten and top of the league, Ryan Sessegnon is available for Tottenham training. Back from injury, with a new manager and a new formation, the question is can Antonio Conte jumpstart Sessegnon’s Tottenham career?
Sessegnon rose quickly at a young age
Ryan Sessegnon was one of those seemingly long-term Tottenham targets. Breaking onto the scene as a teenager in the Championship with Fulham in 2017/18, Sessegnon looked like he could be the next Gareth Bale with proper development. His 15 goals and six assists playing up and down the left flank in 46 games for the Cottagers drew a lot of attention.
Seemingly a target for Tottenham after that breakthrough season Sessegnon stayed with Fulham after promotion but did not have nearly the impact in the Premier League as he had the season before in the Championship.
Sessegnon had his moments like two assists against Southampton in a rare win. The assist on the game-winner in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield. Sessegnon had Fulham’s only goal in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton. However, the goals were few and far between and the wins were just as few. After finishing with only two goals but six assists Sessegnon and Fulham were relegated back to the Championship.
Only Ryan never made the drop, he was signed that summer by Spurs and has been a man in search of opportunity ever since.
Sessegnon has yet to breakthrough at Tottenham
More than two years into his Spurs journey Ryan Sessegnon has played only 14 games for Tottenham with one goal and one assist to his name. Injuries have definitely slowed Sessegnon’s development. In his first season with Tottenham, he injured his hamstring in the preseason.
Ryan had only appeared twice – 15 minutes against Red Star in the Champions League and for one minute against Everton in the Premier League – when the manager that brought him to Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino was fired.
Sessegnon played sporadically under Jose Mourinho, although he did get a full 90 minutes seven times under the Portuguese coach. The next season Mourinho decided to send Sessegnon on-loan to Germany to play for Hoffenheim, where he made 29 appearances in all competitions.
Sessegnon was playing regularly for the full 90 minutes in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim for all of November and December last season after arriving in mid-October. However, in early January, Sessegnon again picked up a knock missing seven straight matches.
While he played in all but one league game after his return, he only got a full 90 minutes in 5 of his 12 appearances in the league. His production also dropped after the injury, after starting hot with two goals and two assists over those nine consecutive starts from November to early January, he managed only one assist in his 12 appearances after the injury.
This season after some minutes in the Conference League Qualifiers, Sessegnon again got a knock and has not appeared for Spurs since. He was on the bench for two matches in the league early in the season but has missed the last eight out injured. Now back in training with the team, Sessegnon has a new coach, and if he can get healthy, likely a new lease on life at Tottenham Hotspur.
How Conte can change Sessegnon’s Spurs career
One of the biggest challenges for Sessegnon at Tottenham – outside his fitness issues – has been his position. Sessegnon is versatile and has played both left-winger and left-back for Tottenham.
The problem with his positions has been one of competition. At left-wing, Son Heung-Min and Steven Bergwijn – just to name two – stand between Sessegnon and any real minutes. At left-back – in a traditional back four – Ben Davies and Sergio Reguilon are both in front of him.
Essentially third on the depth chart at two positions, Sessegnon, when available, has struggled to get opportunities. Now with Conte as the new Tottenham coach and a new formation that uses outside midfielders or wing-backs, the picture has changed.
We saw on the weekend, Conte used the right-footed Matt Doherty to replace Reguilon later in the match. Presumably, with some fitness and time, Sessegnon would work his way in front of Doherty in the pecking order on the left and even give Reguilon some competition.
With new fitness coaches, a new fitness regime, and frankly a new philosophy coming into N17, it is possible that Sessegnon can get himself healthy and fit. The question is can he also get firing. We have seen this before with Conte. He did wonders at Chelsea for Marcus Alonzo and last season he was instrumental and the breakthrough of Achraf Hakimi at Inter, just to name two.
Sessegnon is still young at just 21 and if he can find a position to call his own where he starts to get some consistent minutes – and stays healthy – Ryan can still come good. If any coach can get a wide player to start playing to their full potential, it is Antonio Conte.