Mauricio Pochettino has lost his faith in Tottenham star Lucas Moura, according to Darren Bent.
The Brazilian featured in Spurs’ 4-0 win over Crystal Palace as a substitute on Saturday, but has started just two matches in the Premier League this term.
And Sky Sports pundit Bent has suggested that his manager does not fully trust him.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Let’s be honest, Lucas Moura gets left out the side anyway, even when he doesn’t deserve to.
“It’s not even a fact of Lamela’s keeping him out. Maybe Pochettino feels he can’t trust Lucas Moura over a sustained period of time.
“We saw when Spurs went to Manchester United and he was sensational. Then he scored goal after goal after goal. Big games he’s always performed but for whatever reason, he can’t get a sustained run in the team.
“I don’t quite understand what’s happening with Lucas Moura. It must come down to the manager not fancying him.”
Is Bent right about Poch and Lucas?
Things certainly don’t look too great for the Brazilian.
Just two starts in five Premier League matches is hardly a resounding show of Pochettino’s belief in his ability to affect matches, and his continued omission would seemingly suggest that his manager has other, more reliable options at his disposal.
The only thing that makes no sense here is the fact that Lucas doesn’t appear to have done anything wrong.
Last year in the Premier League, he averaged 1.9 shots per 90 minutes, with that number rising to 3.2 per 90 in the Champions League, as well as 1.9 successful dribbles in domestic competition and 3.8 in Europe, as per Whoscored.
What is more, he has kept a relatively high level of consistency going into this campaign, averaging 2.5 successful dribbles and 3.7 shots on goal per 90.
On the basis of those stats, it’s difficult to see why Pochettino would see fit to exclude Lucas as often as he has.
As Bent points out too, it’s not as if Erik Lamela, who is largely keeping Lucas out of the side, has been particularly exceptional.
Sure, his average of 1.6 shots, 1.2 key passes, and 1.2 successful dribbles, as per Whoscored, is nothing to be sniffed at, and he already has two goals in five games so far this term, but is he really so far ahead of the curve that Lucas shouldn’t be able to get a proper look in? You would probably argue not.
Maybe things will change over the course of the season, but for now, Lucas’ situation is a little bit baffling to say the least.