Alan Hutton singles out player who will be ‘a big piece’ of Mourinho’s puzzle

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Alan Hutton believes that Eric Dier will be one of the linchpins in Jose Mourinho’s defence going forward.

The 26-year-old has penned a new contract with the club that runs until 2024, clearly showing his faith in Mourinho’s project.

The Spurs head coach has been trusting of Dier from the day he arrived at the club, with the England international being a regular in the backline since the restart of the Premier League eason.

Until Dier was suspended, he was arguably Tottenham’s best performers since the restart, although he has been guilty of lapses in concentration, particularly in the 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United.

The former Sporting Lisbon man has looked extremely dominant at the back and in his interview with Spurs TV after signing his new contract, he suggested that he wanted to become one of the best central defenders in the Premier League.

Hutton admitted to being unsure about Dier’s place in the squad previously but now insists that he will be a mainstay in Mourinho’s backline.

Speaking to Football Insider, the former right-back said: “He was one of those players where I didn’t quite know where his best position was, I do think, at centre-half watching him, he does need to play alongside someone with a bit of pace.

“From being that type of defensive midfielder moving back, he’s got the stature, the strength, he can pick a pass – he does tick all the boxes and Mourinho really likes him.

“He plays more often than not under Mourinho and he’s tied him down to a long-term deal. I’m sure that’s a big piece of the puzzle of the back four that he’s thinking: ‘Okay, that’s good going forward.'”

Spurs Web Opinion

Dier has every single physical and technical attribute needed to be a top-class centre-half. However, the only question mark is with respect to his temperament and concentration. This is a position that he has not played in for many years and it will take time for him to adjust to its demands. He will make the occasional mistake as he is learning and it is important fans do not get on his back.

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