Glenn Hoddle has revealed that he believes could be a difficult task for Oliver Skipp to break back into Ange Postecoglou’s starting eleven following Pape Matar Sarr’s performance against Manchester United.
Skipp was given the nod ahead of the Senegalese to partner Yves Bissouma in the Premier League opener at Brentford a fortnight ago and featured for 75 minutes before being replaced by Sarr (transfermarkt).
Sarr was called into the starting line-up for the visit of Erik ten Hag’s United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend and repaid the faith shown in him by his manager with an impressive display which also saw him score his first-ever goal for the club.
The 20-year-old put Spurs ahead four minutes into the second half after United failed to pick up his 40-yard run into the penalty area to get himself on the end of Dejan Kulusevki’s cross with the home side going on to win 2-0.
Glenn Hoddle rates Sarr ahead of Skipp
Sarr was brought off to a standing ovation from the North London faithful in the 76th minute with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg taking his place, while Skipp remained as an unused substitute (transfermarkt).
Hoddle told: Premier League Productions (19/08/23 at 7:45 pm).“He (Sarr) showed a little bit of everything. Astuteness is his defending. His covering the ground with and without the ball. He can pass as well. He gets his head up, at the right moments.
“I think young Skipp has done nothing wrong, but for me, that’s an improvement in the team. Him and Bissouma look really good together. I think he has put himself right in there. I think he will play in the next game, not just because he scored. You have an all-round player there.”
SpursWeb Opinion
Sarr certainly has more to his game than Skipp, who is more of a steady player compared to his team-mate who looks comfortable both with and without the ball. His energy levels and desire to track back and defend, while also making long sprints to join in with the attack were equally impressive.
With Rodrigo Bentancur also set to come back into the side by late November when he recovers from his knee injury and Yves Bissouma looking like a new man, it could prove that Skipp will struggle for regular first-team football this season.
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