Tottenham starlet Luka Vuskovic showed yet again on Tuesday night that he is not your ordinary centre-back, producing an eye-catching moment while in action for Croatia’s Under-21s against Ukraine.
Vuskovic has been one of the best defenders on show in the Bundesliga so far, and there is understandably a lot of excitement at Spurs about the 18-year-old.
Centre-backs tend to mature late, but the teenager is showing maturity beyond his years and is thriving in his first taste of elite-level football on loan at Hamburg.
Vuskovic is not just elite at winning duels, but he is also among the best in ball progression, with his technical quality on the ball making him the perfect modern-day centre-back.
Video: Tottenham youngster Luka Vuskovic showcases his ball-striking ability
Another attribute that sets the teenager apart from other defenders is his ball-striking ability, with the defender scoring seven goals and providing three assists during his loan spell at Westerlo in Belgium last term.
We also saw evidence of that at Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, with Vuskovic scoring and assisting for Spurs in his first pre-season outing of the summer.
Vuskovic showcased his dead-ball ability while in action for Croatia U21s against Ukraine on Tuesday, curling a brilliant effort from a free-kick, which came off the post before being tapped into an empty net by his teammate.
Spurs fans will be excited about Vuskovic’s admission
The Tottenham teenager has been backed to be the future of Croatian football, and one can certainly see why, given the performances he is delivering at such a young age.
Speaking to the media back in his home country a few days ago, Vuskovic said that Spurs have a ‘clear vision’ for his development.
The centre-back explained that he is being patient and taking one step at a time as he works towards becoming a first-team regular for Tottenham.