While so many of us are hanging our hats on James Maddison soon returning to save us from the abyss, there's another long-term absentee who could make a notable impact amid our fight against relegation.
Tottenham's midfield has been a problem area for the past two seasons, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher outlining the distinct issue after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.
Squad building has been predicated on athleticism rather than technical quality, but Tottenham have also often been outmuscled, outduelled and outfought during their horrific Premier League run. Managers have struggled to stumble upon the optimal formula in the middle of the park, and perhaps it's time for Roberto De Zerbi to run it back with the configuration that helped the club to Europa League glory in 2025.
Bentancur's comeback is an underrated boost amid survival fight
Yves Bissouma was expected to leave last summer, and didn't feature under Thomas Frank due to injury. He hasn't played all that much since, despite Igor Tudor bringing him back for the cold, but the Mali international is arguably the most suited out of all of De Zerbi's midfield options to ensure the Italian's principles successfully manifest on the pitch.
Bissouma is a bold and courageous midfielder who can blow hot and cold in the blink of an eye. He's far from an ideal solution, but it's worth giving him a go down the stretch.
But we're not here to talk about Biss. Instead, I want to focus on the potential importance of Rodrigo Bentancur recovering from injury. The Uruguayan has been out of action since the start of the year with a hamstring issue, but has returned to full-team training ahead of Saturday's clash with Brighton.
Some have speculated that he may be involved in the matchday squad this weekend, but the fixture will likely come too soon, given his lengthy layoff.
Back in training 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qKWAsV8E4x
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 16, 2026
Still, Bentancur will almost certainly be involved for the final month of the season, and it's De Zerbi's job to help the former Juventus star rediscover his Antonio Conte-inspired mojo. Bentancur performed like one of the Premier League's best midfielders under De Zerbi's compatriot, with Conte's pre-determined passing patterns limiting the amount of decisions Bentancur needed to make in possession.
But Bentancur could also operate off the cuff. He was so often brave in the build-up to resist pressure and set Spurs away in transition, and also proved a nuisance without the ball. I remember him pinching possession of Wilfried Ndidi before scoring superbly in a 6-2 rout of Leicester at the start of 2022/23.
He hasn't been the same since his devastating knee injury, but has arguably been a victim of circumstance over the past 18 months. Before he changed tack for our Europa run, Ange Postecoglou's midfield structure exposed personnel, and Thomas Frank's bleak framework seemingly discouraged forward passes through the centre of the pitch.
We'll probably never see the Bentancur from the start of his Tottenham career again, but De Zerbi's preaching of pre-determination may bring the Uruguayan back to a more prosperous time in north London.
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