Glenn Hoddle interested to see Spurs wide man play central midfield instead

Glenn Hoddle has suggested that Antonio Conte could experiment with shifting Ivan Perisic into a central midfield role in light of the injuries that Tottenham have in the middle of the park.

Rodrigo Bentancur is not expected to kick a ball again this season after rupturing his ACL while Yves Bissouma is expected to be out for eight weeks after having surgery on his ankle (Football.London).

Ivan Perisic
(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

In fact, Conte even hinted on Tuesday that the Mali international might be out of action for a longer period (Football London).

With Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg suspended for the first leg against the Rossoneri at the San Siro, the Tottenham head coach had to field an inexperienced midfield pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Oliver Skipp.

Both youngsters showed that they can be counted upon, although they could not prevent Spurs from falling to a 1-0 loss.

Hoddle believes that Conte and his coaches will be looking for makeshift midfielders in their squad to get through the next few months and suggested that Perisic might not be a candidate.

The Tottenham legend told BT Sport (broadcast on 14/2; 20:37): “As a manager, I think Antonio and his staff will be looking at a player that can actually play in that midfield who doesn’t play that position.

“I’ve never seen Perisic play there, for instance. He plays all sorts of positions. He’s one, have a little look in training to see if he can hold his own in that midfield because at the moment, at his age, to get up as a wing-back and defend in the penalty area one minute and then get up and attack the next, it’s a big ask for him, whereas in the centre of that midfield, sometimes you run less. Just an idea.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There has not been any evidence over the course of Perisic’s career that he can play anywhere else other than out wide. Besides, with Sessegnon out injured, the Croat is the only natural left wing-back in the squad.

If Conte is going to move anyone to midfield, it is likely to be one of Eric Dier or Clement Lenglet. However, I do not see the Italian doing that, with Skipp, Sarr and Hojbjerg still at his disposal.

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