Exclusive: Paul Robinson claims Tottenham flop can be a PL sensation – ‘He’s top class’
Paul Robinson suggested Jose Mourinho selected Tanguy Ndombele for a one-on-one training session because he regards the Tottenham flop as a potential Premier League sensation.
The former England number one, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the other possibility is that the Spurs manager was ‘singling the 23-year-old out’ on Tuesday.
Ndombele was pictured partaking in an individual session with Mourinho in a public park in a clear breach of government guidelines on social distancing measures.
The government outlined people should only leave their home “alone or with members of their household.”
Images also emerged of Ryan Sessegnon and Davinson Sanchez training on Hadley Common in north London and Mourinho has subsequently apologised.
When asked by Football Insider if anyone should be read into the personnel involved, Robinson said: “It is an interesting one. You can look at it two ways. He is either singling Ndombele out because he wants to look at him and get him sorted out.
“Or, the manager is keen to invest his time and energy into a player he sees a lot of potential in. I would like to think that is the case because Ndombele is a top-class player.
“When he first came into the team he made such a difference. However, his lack of fitness and inability to play two games in a week did not bode well. Jose would not like that but I am sure he can see the talent and the player in there.
“His future has been questioned because he has been in and out of the side so much.”
Mourinho substituted the France international at half-time against Burnley in March and publicly criticised the £63million signing in his post-match presser.
Premier League clubs have been advised not to train due to the coronavirus pandemic whilst all fixtures suspended indefinitely.
In other Tottenham news, Kevin Phillips has told Football Insider 18-year-old must leave this summer in search of first-team football.