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Tottenham starlet wants to return to dethrone Mousa Dembele

By Rucker Haringey

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Joshua Onomah of Aston Villa in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Reading at Villa Park on April 3, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Joshua Onomah of Aston Villa in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Reading at Villa Park on April 3, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Josh Onomah had an up and down loan for Aston Villa, but he still believes he can return to Tottenham and take Mousa Dembele’s spot.

Mousa Dembele has been a fixture in the middle of Tottenham’s midfield for what feels like forever. His likely summer departure is going to create a ton of opportunities for young players at Spurs. Josh Onomah wants to return to North London and claim Dembele’s spot as his own.

Most Tottenham fans think Harry Winks is the young Tottenham midfielder with the best chance to claim a spot in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI. In reality, Onomah will have a real opportunity to make his mark in the midfield as well.

It’s easy to forget about players when they go out on loan and that’s just what happened with Onomah. The Championship might as well be Bolivia for some fans. The fact that Villa played him as an attacking midfielder most of the season also helped confuse Spurs fans.

At first glance, Onomah’s Whoscored.com player rating average of just 6.74 in 34 Championship appearances isn’t very encouraging. Players of his age and talent level should be making more tangible contributions in that league. Closer examination reveals something very interesting about Onomah’s play though.

In his five starts as a central midfielder, his rating jumps up to 7.22. That’s much closer to the sort of rating you’d like to see from a young player ready to make the jump to the Premier League. Those numbers lend real credence to the belief that Onomah plays better in a deeper role in the midfield.

Those who watched Onomah grow up in the Tottenham Academy have always felt he is best utilized as a defensive midfielder. Previously, the senior squad’s plethora of talented players in that spot have forced Pochettino to play him further forward. Dembele’s impending departure could change all of that in a hurry.

His absence, and the fact that Winks may miss a significant chunk of preseason after ankle surgery will hand Onomah a massive opportunity. He will have a real chance to force his way into Pochettino’s mix in the double-pivot. Unless Spurs purchase a massive upgrade in the summer (which is a possibility) then Onomah is going to get a lot of playing time before the season begins in earnest.

Next: Eriksen poised to follow Pochettino

In sum, Onomah faces a sink or swim opportunity at Tottenham this summer. He could end up seizing Mousa Dembele’s spot in the starting XI or being shipped back to a Championship club on a permanent basis. It’s a massive summer for Onomah.

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