Mathys Tel has been bounced in and out of the Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup on multiple occasions this season while Thomas Frank both figures out his own best XI and also figures out what exactly in the heck he is doing as Spurs manager.
Spurs fans were very frustrated with Frank in recent weeks, as snubs of young star players who should clearly be starting, like Tel and Xavi Simons, led directly to putrid performances and more dropped points in the Premier League table with Spurs slipping further and further away from the Champions League places.
But with a combined 5-0 scoring margin in victories over Brentford and Slavia Praha, Spurs are quietly cruising back on track with a more brave style of play and far more chances created as a whole. And whlie Tel has not been a sure fire starter still, even his appearances off the bench, such as against the Czech side on Tuesday night, are drawing praise from fans.
Mathys Tel is back in the saddle
Tel is back in the Champions League squad with striker Dominic Solanke still nowhere near returning, and he is making the most of his opportunities. The man whose clutch goals spared points against Leeds United and Manchester United, Tel is ready for another start, and judging by how fire he was in his cameo appearances against Slavia Praha, a start against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend should be an obvious decision for Frank.
Spurs fans have been pushing harder and harder for Frank to give Tel more opportunities. He first sparked interest from Tottenham fans last season on loan from Bayern Munich with his pure passion for the club, and now fans are starting to see that his athletic traits and ball striking make him a particularly dangerous proposition even for top Premier League defenses.
If Tel can be properly backed and developed by Frank with regular playing time being a central tenant of that, then he could very well become the next Tottenham superstar. As Spurs seek their Son Heung-min replacement after rather unwisely balking on a new left winger in the summer transfer window, some Spurs fans will cry out that Tel was the left wing investment and, in lieu of anyone else, should be treated as such.
A start against a struggling Nottingham Forest side would be a step in that direction. Tel is ready to shine against anyone, judging by what we saw off the bench against Manchester United, and his promising Champions League display is prime to be rewarded.