Tottenham Hotspur’s key midfielder Victor Wanayama is nearing his return to full fitness after suffering a knee injury which has kept him out on the sideline since August. Both his club and country have recently shared pictures of him doing full training with their respective training camps, meaning the Kenyan star could soon be back in action in the Premier League.
Although he might not return to action before the end 2017, his early return to fitness next year could be a huge bonus for Tottenham Hotspur, who have looked pretty bleak in their recent matches. Wanyama injured himself during training, just after their win over Burnley in late-August. Since then, his absence from the starting eleven has really affected their form this season.
Indeed! Spurs are currently dawdling in the seventh position in the Premier League table. The Lilywhites have won just three of their last eight Premier League games, during which they’ve conceded 11 goals. A very concerning number for a team as disciplined as Tottenham.
In fact, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has also admitted that Spurs are desperately missing the services of Victor Wanyama this season.
“I have said it before, Wanyama and other players, who play in his position, are an integral part of any club’s success or failure because what they do is glamorous. His absence is being felt at Tottenham at the moment” – he said, in an interview.
And the Frenchman isn’t wrong either. Victor Wanyama serves as a key component for his side in the midfield positions. His bulky figure coupled with his tenacity and physicality helps him dominate the central areas of the field, eventually helping the creative players to have more freedom in the attacking areas.
The Kenyan International combines well with Eric Dier a Mousa Dembele to form a solid midfield partnership, which has been one of the main reasons behind Spurs’ success under Mauricio Pochettino. Much like Bayern’s midfield duo of Javi Martinez and Arturo Vidal, the midfield combination of Dier, Dembele and Wanyama allows them to dominate the opposition throughout the game, thanks to their rough nature of play as well as their unrivalled spirit and concentration.
Therefore, Mauricio Pochettino would desperately need for the services of his Kenyan midfielder as they look to bounce back from a rough season so far in the Premier League. Wanyama may not have a direct effect on the points table but his quality will definitely improve Spurs’ chances in front of goal.
