Ange Postecoglou has perhaps thrown a big hint about his starting eleven against Aston Villa by confirming that Giovani Lo Celso will get opportunities to showcase his qualities over the coming weeks.
It perhaps came as a surprise to some that Lo Celso did not come into the team to replace the injured James Maddison against Wolves, with Postecoglou deciding to tweak the system and play Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg instead.
The decision did not work as Tottenham lacked creativity in the middle of the park at Molineux, and it has been reported over recent days by some sources that the Argentine is expected to get his first Premier League start of the season tomorrow afternoon (The Mail).
When asked if Lo Celso could be in line for a start following a strong international break, Postecoglou told Football.London: “I looked at Gio really well before I got here, both here at Tottenham and his spells at other clubs
“You can see he has certain qualities. He’s had a disruptive season for us. He’s had a few injuries, he hasn’t really had a clean run at it. He’s one of a number of players that that has happened to.
“But you can see technically he’s a very creative player. He works hard for the team. He’ll get an opportunity over the next few weeks to hopefully come in and make an impact.”
The former Real Betis man was one of Tottenham’s most impressive performers during pre-season but yet, opportunities have been hard to come by for him so far this season.
Does Giovani Lo Celso have a future at Spurs?
When quizzed on whether the 27-year-old is frustrated at the lack of game time, the Spurs head coach said: “No, I haven’t had an issue with Gio at all. He had a really strong pre-season and then he got injured at Fulham which was his first start and that set him back for quite a while.
“He’s been working his way back to fitness. I haven’t had any issues with any of the players in terms of frustrations. All of them know that they’re in the same boat. They work hard at training, they’ll get their opportunity when it comes.
“When it comes, it’s up to them to put in performances and play at a level that continues to allow them to be part of it. If they’re here they’ll get an opportunity, that’s all you can offer. I don’t think his national team form is a direct correlation to here, just like anyone else’s.
“Gio will get an opportunity, particularly over the next few weeks because we are down on numbers and have a fair few games between now and new year. We won’t get anyone back of significance in that time apart from Romero so Gio and the other guys will get that opportunity.”
Lo Celso has never really managed to have sustained success at Spurs since his switch to the club back in 2019 but Postecoglou insisted that much like the rest of the players, the midfielder gets a clean slate.
The 58-year-old added: “From my perspective, this is the time when I am getting an opportunity to make all these assessments because if you lump it all into one and look at previous exposure here at the club that’s not really relevant to me – it’s what I see from now on. And how the players feel themselves about playing the football that I want and whether they see themselves fitting into that.
“Also with Gio, he has had a couple of disruptions. He had a good pre-season, the Fulham game was early in the year and I started him in that because I thought he had earned it, then he has a setback and has to work his way back. It hasn’t happened by design but I am certainly going to get a good look at everyone.”
