Richarlison came under fire for errors that some felt proved costly, though he still scored his third Premier League goal of the season and is on the verge of matching last year’s tally. That form could make breaking back into the starting lineup more difficult for Dominic Solanke.
Solanke has been out of action for Tottenham since their win over Manchester City in August. With his return approaching, former Brentford boss Allen told Tottenham News that the striker will need to raise his game.
“I think Solanke’s got a lot of work to do, to be honest,” Martin said. “He’s a good player, we all know that. But there’s a difference between being a good player and being the kind who can lift your team into the top three or two and fight for the Premier League title. I’m not sure Solanke is at that level. He’s good, but more of a top-ten player than a top-three player.”
Last season, Solanke scored nine goals and provided three assists as Tottenham finished 17th in the league. He slightly underperformed his expected goals, netting nine from an xG of 10.97, while missing 12 big chances and posting a 15 per cent conversion rate. His expected assists were 1.15 per 90, outperforming that metric, and he created six big chances in 27 appearances.
Though one of Spurs’ better performers last season, Solanke’s finishing and chance creation remain areas to improve. If he sharpens those, injuries aside, there will be little reason for Frank to leave him out this season.
