Alejo Veliz development update

The £13m striker from Argentina, Alejo Veliz, was an exciting summer signing who has had Spurs fans considering how he might factor into Ange’s plans.

At the start of the season the resounding narrative was that Veliz, just 19 at the time, would be one for the future.

Although clocking 11 goals in 23 matches in the Primera Division, the young striker’s talent was untested in England, and with new signing Manor Solomon giving Sonny the option to play down the middle of the pitch, first-team chances seemed slim.

Now, however, a real opportunity to play isn’t out of the question.

Although Spurs were able to add Brennan Johnson to their ranks before the end of August, attacking options have been limited by injuries to Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon. Additionally, the other option for the number nine spot, Richarlison, has continued to underperform.

With less players to pick from, Veliz could start to get more minutes in due time.

His first appearance in the senior squad came against Arsenal, however he never found time on the pitch. Veliz also appeared in the Liverpool and Luton matches, only playing for about a minute in each respectively.

Despite the lack of real involvement, however, the current trend in squad selection seems to indicate that he’ll be getting more minutes soon.

It’s hard to say how much the player has actually developed in the time that he’s been at the club, and perhaps the only person who could attest to that would be Ange or Veliz himself. Currently, the only touches he’s getting on the ball are at the training ground.

Ange has been taking an appropriate approach in slowly incorporating the player, who is contracted to be at the club for the next six years and will have ample time to get used to playing at such a high level.

Nevertheless, injuries and lackluster performances from certain players seem to be pushing Veliz closer and closer to the pitch, putting a pause on Ange’s slow-development plans for the time being.