Postecoglou says Spurs man’s form has been ‘as good as anyone else’ in Premier League ahead of England squad announcement | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou says Djed Spence has been as good as any other full-back in the Premier League of late.

The full-back has started 12 of Spurs’ last 13 games, having not started a single game all season before that.

He first came into the fold in mid-December in the 5-0 league win over Southampton, and is now a mainstay in the starting XI.

His form has been so good that he is being spoken about as a potential pick for Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad selection next month.

Postecoglou said: “It’s fair to say in terms of full-backs in recent times, his form is as good as anybody’s. And don’t forget he’s not really a left back, he’s a right back.

“…But in terms of full backs and form in the league over the last two or three months I think he’d be up there.”

The Australian expanded on Spence’s quality, and how hard it has been for him to break into the squad: “I made it difficult for him, I didn’t make it easy for him. It’s not like I said to him, ‘Djed, you’re here, we love you, stay’. I purposely made it difficult for him because I thought that was going to be a test.

“To see, like I said earlier in the year when he wasn’t playing and wasn’t part of squads, how was his training? How was he reacting to things? And he never got disengaged, he was always engaged. That made an impression on everyone; me, the coaches, his teammates. And I think from then on it’s just been all about him. And he’s been brilliant.”

James Maddison is another who is hoping to win a place in the England squad under new head coach Thomas Tuchel having been frozen out under former boss Gareth Southgate and then Lee Carsley in interim charge.

On Maddison’s England chances, Postecoglou said: “That’s Thomas’ decision. What’s important for us is we keep Madders as healthy as possible. We know when he’s in good physical condition he’s really important for us, we saw that last week.

“He has a real ability to make things happen, tight ares, score goals, assist goals… If he plays well, things like international call-ups tend to flow from there.”