Lamela finally ready to deliver for Tottenham

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have been relatively quiet in the transfer market this summer but record signing Erik Lamela looks as though he could inspire a top-four challenge - a year late.

Lamela finally ready to deliver for Tottenham

(Reuters)





The Argentine was signed for 30 million pounds before last season but was virtually invisible as he struggled to adapt to the Premier League after signing from AS Roma.

The attacking midfielder made only three starts in the Premier League and scored only one goal in all competitions, against lightweights FC Sheriff of Moldova in the Europa League.

Fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino's arrival as manager has provided him a fresh start, however, and the 22-year-old from Buenos Aires is showing early signs that he could help Tottenham improve on last season's disappointing sixth place.

He started against West Ham United last weekend as Spurs began with a hard-fought 1-0 victory and came on as a substitute on Thursday in the Europa League at AEL Limassol, helping his side overturn a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 in Cyprus.

Lamela said Pochettino had helped him rediscover his verve.

"He has helped me a lot of times," Lamela was quoted in the Daily Mail ahead of Tottenham's home match against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. "But, really, it depends on me.

"It is down to me, how I train, what I do in training and in matches. Then I think he will put me on the pitch.

"I will play wherever he puts me. It is a challenge for me because last season did not go as I had hoped: the injuries, maybe because I was not 100 percent.

"These are things you have to overcome and change yourself. You always have to improve. I don't know how far I can go but I will try my hardest to make my team win."

"When I was injured, I was not good. I was not happy. I now feel 100 percent. I am happy to be playing football again and helping the team."

Pochettino said Lamela should not be judged on his disappointing first season in English football.

"He was very disappointed about last season but the past is the past," he said.

"With confidence and time he will show his value."





(Editing by Martyn Herman)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world