Alan Hutton has praised Serge Aurier and admitted that the Ivorian has proved him wrong with the solid defensive displays he has shown over recent weeks.
Aurier is arguably playing his best football since arriving at Tottenham three and a half years ago.
While the right-back showed last season that he can be a very useful attacking outlet, there were still major question marks about the defensive side of his game.
However, the 27-year-old seems to have eliminated his lapses in concentration and has shown over the last few months that he is fully capable of putting in defensively disciplined performances.
Few would have expected Matt Doherty to be benched by Aurier when the Republic of Ireland international arrived from Wolves in the summer but Doherty’s arrival seems to have brought the best out of Aurier.
Reports indicate that Tottenham are ready to begin talks with the right-back over a new deal.
Hutton insisted that the former PSG man deserves a new deal on the back of his improved recent performances.
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The former Spurs defender told Football Insider: “I’ve criticised him on numerous occasions.
There’s definitely a good player in there, I think sometimes it comes down to concentration with him.
“He’s quick and his ability to go forward is very good but I thought it was just defensively he makes mistakes.
“Fair play to him, since Docherty’s come in, he’s really knuckled down. He’s seen there’s competition there for his place and he’s realised ‘hold on a second, if I want to stay at this club, which is a great club, and play week in, week out, I’m going to have to work hard.’ And he’s done that so full credit to him.
“His performances of late have been very good, in my opinion. Obviously, he’s got Steven Bergwijn on that side with him who works tirelessly to help out.
“All credit to him. His performances recently have deserved a new contract. You’d rather give someone who is playing well a new contract than spend £30million or £40million to bring someone else in. It’s worth it.
“Fair play to him for turning it around because he’s been excellent.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Hutton is right in identifying that the increased competition offered by Doherty is the main reason we have seen Aurier raise his game this season. That is something he has never really had at Spurs since arriving in 2017.
Pochettino clearly preferred Trippier to Aurier and continued playing the England defender even if his performances were below par. The former PSG man also did not have any competition last season since he knew his place in the side was more or less assured.
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