OPINION
One man who has had a dramatic rise to glory before crashing back down to earth at Tottenham this season has been centre back Juan Foyth – the Argentine now stuck on the fringes of the first team in north London.
The 21-year-old looked the business in his first appearances of the season, injury forcing Mauricio Pochettino’s hand to throw the youngster in the deep end for a run of five consecutive Premier League starts through November and December.
However, one or two of errors coupled with a return to fitness for the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez meant that the Argentinian international, whose form earned him his first cap for his country, was forced to sit back on the bench, where he has been ever since bar a couple of cup outings.
With hopes of an FA Cup or League Cup run dead and buried, the only chance that Foyth has of saving his season from ending in disappointment – both in terms of how his time in the starting XI ended as well the prospect of no more first team game time – is if injury once again strikes.
It seems fortune might be on the hot prospect’s side, with Danny Rose confirmed out of their Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund and Jan Vertonghen admitting he is likely to fill the void.
He revealed his switch to the Mirror, saying: “I’m always available for any position where the team needs me. There’s some difference between the two positions. Everyone knows the way I play there and as a left back I try to do it in my way.
“Obviously I’m a different left back than Danny Rose or Ben Davies. I played there for so many games for Belgium back in the day and at the start of my career. I think I can do it in a way that can suit the team in certain games.”
With the Belgian looking set to move out wide, it opens up a position in the middle of the park and while Toby Alderweireld will likely take his place, Foyth does find himself elevated into first choice backup as a result.
With rotation key to keep everyone fighting fit, this could be the last chance that the Argentine gets to prove his worth and finish the season on a high.
It is now or never for the youngster to earn either some action from the bench or even a start to rest those playing in midweek, with no guarantee injuries or even rotation will strike later in the campaign.