It is high time Pochettino was ruthless and axed Tottenham 22-year-old
COMMENT By Dominic Toner
Eric Dier should be dropped from the Tottenham starting line-up as defender Toby Alderweireld is ready to make his comeback from injury.
The 22-year-old has been playing at centre-back for the majority of this season as he fills in for the injured defender, but should now be considered for a place in the midfield.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Alderweireld will return to the squad on Wednesday to face CSKA Moscow and that should mean a run of games on the bench for Dier.
The north London club have missed senior figure Alderweireld, who is regarded as one of the best defender in the Premier League.
Dier’s recent performances must be judged on the fact he has been playing out of position, but he has looked uncertain all season, including his time in midfield at the early stages of the campaign.
The England international suffered humiliation with is country at the European Championships and looks a long way off his high standard from last season.
The defensive midfielder was phenomenal in the third-placed finish in the Premier League, but must now dislodge Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele from the starting XI.
The midfield pairing of Wanyama and Dembele have formed a strong partnership and look extremely physically imposing.
Dier must begin to show signs of his best form again before he can start in the midfield and Spurs’ cup competitions would still give him plenty of opportunities to impress.
Pochettino has been keen to build his side around the young English core of Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane, but must now help the club challenge at the top-end of the table.
His side are currently just seven points behind league leaders Chelsea and he should be fielding his strongest XI in a title pursuit, which currently should not include out-of-form Dier.
It is high time the manager was ruthless and axed the underperforming England international.
In other Tottenham news, the club should strengthen in this area if they want to win the Premier League.