Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was a surprising pick as BT Sport's man of the match in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Hojbjerg put in a characteristically dogged shift, epitomised by a late one-man counter-attack, but was part of a Spurs midfield which struggled to control possession for the second game running and, at times, was overrun.
To some observers, Hojbjerg was uncomfortable with the visitors' press and ponderous in possession, especially in the opposition half, but Jermaine Jenas in the BT studio felt he was the game's outstanding player.
This is typical of the mixed perception of the Dane, who is more appreciated by his managers, team-mates and ex-pros like Jenas than the average supporter.
On paper, there are few players in the Premier League who appear more indispensable to their clubs. Since Hojbjerg moved to north London in summer 2020, no outfield player has played more minutes in the top-flight and he has missed just two games - the 2-2 draw with Liverpool through illness and a 2-0 defeat by Wolves in February, when he was rested.
Jose Mourinho, Ryan Mason, Nuno Espirito Santo and now Antonio Conte all had little hesitation in trusting Hojbjerg as their midfield water-carrier.
Yet there is still a lingering question over his importance to Spurs, particularly after this summer's signings, and when Real Madrid's interest in the 27-year-old emerged last week, some fans were indifferent, regarding Hojbjerg as a useful player but far from indispensable.
Certainly, there is a case that Hojbjerg's omnipresence over the last two seasons is as much a result of necessity as merit, and a midfield pairing from Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp might give Spurs more control.
Summer signing Bissouma is potentially a more press-resistant and dynamic option than Hojbjerg, which may have been useful in the first halves against Chelsea and Wolves, while Skipp and Bentancur are better on the ball and offer more creativity.
But what Hojbjerg lacks in technical quality, he makes up for in his work off the ball and the many intangibles he brings to the side, so perhaps Conte's midfield two would be more often overrun without his battling instincts?
He typically covers more ground than any of his team-mates, and makes a high number of tackles, blocks, interceptions and recoveries. The former Bayern Munich player is considered a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, raising standards for the rest of the squad.
His perfectionism and professionalism are widely appreciated at the club and if he has a character flaw, it is a refusal to acknowledge when he needs a rest or should stop playing through injury, which can be to his detriment - but is generally a trait loved by managers.
Assessing Hojbjerg’s true importance to Conte’s Spurs team may only be possible when he is no longer in it
With Skipp returning to full training this week and Bissouma getting up to speed, Hojbjerg's run of League appearances will surely come to an end in the autumn as the fixtures pile up.
A Conte midfield without him could take Spurs up a level, particularly when it comes to controlling matches and finding a way through stubborn opponents. On the flip side, it may only become obvious to everyone what he brings when he is finally gone.
Oddly, then, assessing Hojbjerg's true importance to Conte's team may only be possible when he is no longer in it.
