Pundit claims Spurs pair could remain on the bench for the rest of the season

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills believes Jose Mourinho is likely to stick with a centre-back partnership of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez until the end of the season.

Few Spurs fans would have expected Dier and Sanchez to be Jose’s preferred pair at the back ahead of the restart but the pair have put in two solid displays against Manchester United and West Ham with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen having to make do with a place on the bench.

Tottenham are yet to concede a goal in open play since the restart, with United’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw two weeks ago, coming from a spot-kick as a result of a Dier mistake.

Dier, in particular, has stood out as a real leader at the back for Spurs and won over many fans with his performances against United and West Ham.

The England international has admitted that he is enjoying playing at centre-back, although he insisted that he still has a lot to learn in the position.

Mills believes that Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are likely to remain on the bench for the foreseeable future.

He told Football Insider: “It is difficult because there are question marks over some players.

“They have signed short term deals but are they committed?

“Mourinho knows what he is going to get from Sanchez, who has pace, and Dier, who has experience.

“He is a great coach defensively and he will drill them and build that partnership.

“Unless something goes hideously wrong then I fully expect those two to be the preferred centre-back partnership.”

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Toby has looked a shadow of the player he was previously since signing his new deal. So it is not all that surprising that Jose has decided that Dier and Sanchez are our post reliable pair at the back.

If we bring in another centre-half this summer (which we look likely to going by various media reports), then Alderweireld is in the risk of slipping down to fourth choice in the pecking order next season.

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