With James Maddison’s absence, Dejan Kulusevski has stepped up for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks and delivered the goods.
That was proven during Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday night, with Ange Postecoglou’s side closing the gap on the Premier League’s top four.
A player initially brought in on a loan deal from Juventus when Antonio Conte was in charge, Paul Merson thinks Dejan Kulusevski is now back to his best after a little dip in form, as he told Sky Sports News (16/12/23 at 12:05 pm).
After a strong start to his Spurs career, Paul Merson stated that he then got ‘found out’ because he had ‘earned the respect of people’.
And now that Dejan Kulusevski has got over that blip, he is showcasing his old form after assisting and scoring against Forest.
No Tottenham player has created more chances than the £25 million signing this term, with five goals and two assists to his name from 17 Premier League matches.
And you think when the likes of James Maddison return from injury, the form of the Swedish star will hit even higher heights
Dejan Kulusevski is back to his best for Tottenham
“I think he has been absolutely outstanding,” said Merson. “He has come onto the scene, dipped and then got injured.
“But he has come back and now he is a top player. The lad is a top player. When they get going Tottenham, they are a very good team.
“They are trying to sit men behind the ball and defend, Forest. But you can’t defend that (Kulusevski’s assist). What a ball!
“He started well, then all of a sudden people found out about him and he earned the respect of people. That’s what happens, then you have to come up with different solutions when you are highlighted in team talks to stop players and he has started to do that again now.”
Is Dejan Kulusevski underrated?
A player who isn’t blessed with pace or tricks, the left-footed winger relies upon close control, the ability to protect the ball and a wicked delivery.
Kulusevski sometimes looks as though he is moving awkwardly or he is going in slow motion.
But he still has the ball at his feet and can carry that ball up the field in a very comfortable fashion.
And, as he proved at the City Ground, if you allow him that inch to put the ball into the box, then he can provide that game-changing moment.
Until Richarlison was fed the ball on the plate, whilst Spurs were playing well, they were being frustrated in a cagey and aggressive game.
But that’s when Kulusevski produced one of the assists of the season to showcase his worth and also demand more respect because he is probably underrated in this Spurs side.
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