Eric Dier: Pundit issues 'huge' Tottenham claim after picture emerges
Eric Dier has been "a huge miss" for Tottenham in recent weeks, according to Paul Robinson.
The former White Hart Lane number one, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 28-year-old is one of few vocal players within Antonio Conte's side.
Dier has missed seven of Tottenham's last eight fixtures across all competitions because of a thigh injury.
The Lilywhites have lost four games in the centre-half's absence.
As pictured by club media (16 February), Dier returned to training ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester City.
Robinson claimed Spurs failed to replace former defensive duo Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
"Eric Dier is a huge miss, which I never thought I’d say," he told Football Insider's Dylan Childs.
"Let’s be honest, Spurs have never really replaced Vertonghen and Alderweireld.
"The fact they are missing Dier shows how poor the rest of the defence has been.
"Dier is not a top-four defender. He is not a world-class centre-half in truth. That is where Spurs want to be and that is where they need to get to.
"They’re missing leaders badly and that is something that Dier does bring.
"There is no leaders in the centre of the pitch. Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris are leaders but I’m not sure that they’re very vocal on the field.
"Dier is vocal though. He can man manage games on the pitch.”