OPINION
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Toby Alderweireld could be absent for the next 10 games until Christmas and that will leave a huge gap in the defence.
The 28-year-old defender picked up a hamstring injury in the historic win over Real Madrid in the Champions League and it is worse than initially feared.
“Toby is out. We need to assess him but we expect longer than previously we thought when the problem happened. Maybe after Christmas, that’s the expectation,” Pochettino said, as quoted by ESPN.
Spurs play 10 games from now until Christmas Day and the manager will need to find a solution to missing the centre-back for a lengthy spell.
Ben Davies is the perfect man to fill the void left by teammate Alderweireld and deserves to be in the starting XI based on his current form.
The 24-year-old has been used as a left wing-back by trade, but he can slot into the three-man defence and has done so on a regular basis for his nation Wales.
He has been in sensational form this campaign, scoring two goals and supplying 12 assists in 12 games.
His position in the starting XI has come under threat following Danny Rose’s return, but a good way around that problem would be using him at centre-back.
Pochettino could potentially line up with Davinson Sanchez as the right-sided defender, with Jan Vertonghen in the heart of defence and Davies on the left.
Spurs do have some exceptional options at the back and they need to reward the Wales international for his consistency of late.
Davies can really thrive at centre-back and the fact that he is a good one-on-one defender that is comfortable in possession makes him the perfect choice.
Eric Dier is another option that could drop back in to replace Alderweireld, but he should be allowed to continue thriving in midfield.