It has been another case of watching on for Arnaut Danjuma with the first international break of 2023 in full swing. Permanently glued to the Tottenham substitutes' bench since joining on loan from Villarreal in January, the 26-year-old was not included as part of the Netherlands squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers at a time when the majority of his Spurs teammates jetted off across the globe for international football.
Instead, the Lagos-born ace is one of four outfield players remaining behind at Hotspur Way to train until the vast majority of the first-team squad return from their respective international commitments. At a time when he just isn't featuring in Antonio Conte's plans, the versatile attacker really would have benefitted from a Netherlands call-up and minutes on the pitch.
That unfortunately isn't the case for the player and he has instead had to put in the work behind the scenes with fellow outfield players Japhet Tanganga, Clement Lenglet and Lucas Moura. Two months on from his loan move to N17, Danjuma has played a meagre 47 minutes across four appearances and there is no sign that his game time will drastically improve in the run-in.
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Ahead of the win over Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the month, Conte made it clear in his pre-match press conference that Danjuma was very much a club signing. In the same boat as Djed Spence, who barely featured at all under Conte before he was loaned out to Rennes in January, the head coach opened up on the ex-Bournemouth man and his lack of minutes.
"Yeah about Arnaut, for sure I am sorry. I am sorry for him because he arrived in the transfer market in January and the club wanted to sign on loan this player," he explained. "For sure he has good characteristics, good quality and maybe he has not specific characteristics to be a No.10. Maybe he is more a second striker or a winger, but for sure I am appreciating a lot his desire, his will in every training (session).
"Against Milan, if we don't have that red card to Romero, he was coming to try to play with a 4-2-4. I have to try to find always the best solution."
Still electing against bringing Danjuma on in the closing stages of the Forest game with the team 3-0 to the good after 62 minutes as Lucas was picked ahead of him, the January addition has been an unused substitute in five of their last six Premier League games. A trip to Everton is first up after the international break and Danjuma will be hoping that his hard work at Hotspur Way with the coaching staff will lead to a change in his current situation.
The severity of the issue Richarlison picked up in the recent 3-3 draw at Southampton could also have a bearing on Danjuma's game time, although the last few weeks would suggest that Lucas would be the player to benefit in that case. Missing out on the Brazil squad as a result of his early exit at St Mary's, where Richarlison is in terms of his fitness will become clear later in the week when Cristian Stellini, who now is acting head coach for the remainder of the season following Conte's Spurs exit late on Sunday evening, speaks at his pre-match press conference prior to the game on Merseyside.
Now that Conte's future has been resolved amid all the question marks after his eye-opening outburst at Southampton just over a week ago, the managerial change could potentially transform Danjuma's fortunes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If Conte had remained at the helm until the end of the term then minutes would have been extremely few and far between for the player unless he had managed to change the 53-year-old's thinking.
However, an exit for the experienced head coach may now hand the Netherlands international a Tottenham lifeline in the final 10 games. Stellini and Ryan Mason could quite easily decide that Danjuma is very much part of their plans going forward and the minutes the player desperately craves could follow.
If it is to be at Goodison Park where the attacker's Spurs career gets back on track then he can expect a very hostile welcome on Merseyside. On course to link up with the Toffees on a loan deal until the end of the season with the move virtually done and dusted before Spurs hijacked it at the very last minute, Everton fans have not forgotten the dramatic U-turn and the player's change of heart.
A frosty reception for the player could play into his hands, though, as he will be more determined than ever to silence the home support and ensure that he gives the travelling faithful something to cheer about. All Danjuma can do right now is continue working hard behind the scenes and pray that his chance comes his way.
That opportunity could possibly now arise in a week's time following Conte's exit.
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