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Tottenham star may be too fragile to thrive at Spurs

By Rucker Haringey

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur trains during the Tottenham Hotspur FC Training Session ahead of there UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Juventus at Allianz Stadium on February 12, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur trains during the Tottenham Hotspur FC Training Session ahead of there UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Juventus at Allianz Stadium on February 12, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham can’t rely on Harry Winks

Harry Winks might be Tottenham’s second best Harry, but he’s still beloved by Spurs fans all around the globe. Unfortunately, the English midfielder’s body doesn’t seem to be tough enough for him to thrive under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs.

Winks’ season has been derailed by injury and it’s unclear whether or not he’ll make it back on the pitch anytime soon. Recent reports from England make it clear that his status for this summer’s World Cup is very much in jeopardy.

That fact that Winks is still suffering from an ankle injury he picked up at the end of last season is real cause for concern at Tottenham. In an ideal world, Pochettino would slot Winks into his long-term plans as cover for Mousa Dembele in the centre of the Spurs lineup. His lack of availability this year has officials at Tottenham reconsidering those plans.

The fact that Winks is struggling to stay fit really shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. One look at the midfielder reveals the reality that his body is slight by Premier League standards. It’s not impossible to succeed as a Premier League midfielder at his size, but it certainly is out of the ordinary.

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It is possible that Winks can fully recover this summer, but Tottenham must make contingency plans. That means that finding another defensive midfielder or two must shoot up to the top of Pochettino’s summer transfer wish list. Relying on the trio of Winks, Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama to hold down the fort if Dembele gets injured is a recipe for disaster.

That does not mean, however, that Winks should be sold this summer. He’s still young enough to grow into a more mature body type. Even if he continues to struggle with injuries from time to time, he’s still worth keeping around the club. He currently provides Tottenham with a low-cost midfielder who is keenly committed to the club.

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The ultimate point here is that Pochettino and company cannot afford to rely on Winks moving forward. If he regains full fitness and shows he’s ready to be counted on again, Spurs should regard it as a pleasant bonus. Sadly, the more likely scenario is that he follows a Ryan Masonesque route away from the club in another season or two.

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