Tottenham’s 5 most important players vs Stoke

4. Moussa Sissoko

Tottenham fans shouldn’t expect too much from Sissoko in his first match with the club. He’s likely to assume Lamela’s place in the starting XI, which means he’ll have an opportunity to contribute in the attacking third.

Sissoko needs to stick with what he does best. Pochettino has been clear about his need for a player who is willing to take defenders on. Look for the French international to try to push the Spurs attack forward early and often.

Spurs also need Sissoko to fill Lamela’s valuable role when the club loses possession. Lamela does a terrific job of harassing the opposition to win the ball back. That hasn’t previously been a strength of Sissoko’s, but he’ll need to show effort in that regard against Stoke.

Moussa Sissoko doesn’t need to be the star of the show against Stoke, he just needs to put in a solid shift. If he happens to make a big impact, it’ll be a bonus for Spurs.

Next: 3. Christian Eriksen