It is rather quiet at Hotspur Way at present with a good number of the Tottenham squad taking part in the 2022 World Cup. A handful of players are now back at the club's Enfield training base, however, after their mid-season break.
Players such as Clement Lenglet, Oliver Skipp and Dejan Kulusevski returned at the start of the week to recommence their training ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Brentford. Antonio Conte would love to have all of his Tottenham players to work with after some recent struggles but it does give an opportunity to those back on the training field to work very closely with him and improve their game.
So which players need to impress Conte ahead of the second part of the campaign? football.london takes a look at five who must seize this rare chance with both hands.
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Matt Doherty
Doherty was one of a few players not spotted at Hotspur Way on Monday in the selection of training photos released by the club. The right wing-back was in action for Republic of Ireland this month and the club confirmed on their official website that a number of players are beginning their breaks after playing in international friendlies recently.
Excelling in his position in the final few months of last term before sustaining a season-ending knee injury at Aston Villa, the 30-year-old has only played 488 minutes across 11 appearances in 2022/23 as he tries to recover from the issue and recapture his top form. Doherty and Djed Spence are the players most suited to the right wing-back role but it is Emerson Royal who has made the position his own going on his game time this term.
Following a big second half to last campaign, Doherty needs more of the same this time around as he attempts to win back his place in the side and feature regularly. Key to that is impressing on the training pitch and giving his boss no option but to pick him.
Emerson Royal
Emerson had a day to forget when Tottenham were last in Premier League action. Handed a start against Leeds United, the Brazil missed a golden opportunity to net from close range in the first half and was later jeered off the pitch by home supporters when he made way on 57 minutes.
Conte has continued to persist with Emerson at right wing-back this season but the 23-year-old has only contributed with one assist. Not known for his attacking qualities as he is a right-back first and foremost, the ex-Barcelona man has also struggled with his defensive play of late and that has led to fans calling for him to be omitted from the team.
Now back at Hotspur Way after a short break, Emerson can use the time to work with Conte and hopefully improve the attacking aspect of his game. He's clearly doing something right in the head coach's eyes going on his game time in 2022/23 but much more is needed from him on the pitch.
With Conte and Fabio Paratici facing a big decision at right wing-back ahead of the January transfer window, now is the time for Emerson and his competitors to prove that they should remain at Tottenham.
Djed Spence
Conte has so far resisted the temptation of throwing in Spence despite so much clamour from Tottenham fans for the summer signing to start. You can fully understand why all are so keen for him to be given a chance as Emerson is not suited to the right wing-back role and Doherty has been far from his best since his injury.
The FA Cup clash at home to Portsmouth represents a good opportunity for Spence to increase his minutes, although he could perhaps come into Conte's thinking in the Premier League with a good few weeks on the training pitch ahead of the Boxing Day clash vs Brentford. It really is the perfect opportunity for Spence to improve his game, soak in every single word from Conte and demonstrate that he is ready for regular league action.
It is up to him to prove to his boss why he should be given more opportunities.
Yves Bissouma
Bissouma has endured a difficult start to his Tottenham career with a lack of regular minutes coming his way since his switch from Brighton and Hove Albion. Seen as someone who would instantly come in and start in Spurs' midfield, the Mali international has instead had to settle for 11 substitute appearances from his 18 games in all competitions in 2022/23.
Conte did admit midway through September that the summer addition is struggling with the "tactical aspect" at Tottenham, thus explaining his lack of starts in the Premier League. Bissouma has made big strides recently, though, including in the 2-1 home defeat against Liverpool, which was by far his best performance in a Tottenham shirt to date.
The Spurs boss has so far demonstrated the importance of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur to the team, with the midfielders barely getting a breather at all despite the Italian having two very good options in Bissouma and Oliver Skipp to bring in. Bissouma can use the next few weeks to fully get up to speed with Conte's ways and make sure that the Italian has a real headache on his hands when it comes to selecting his midfield two in 2023.
Bryan Gil
Tottenham fans started to see a bit more of Bryan in action in the final few weeks before domestic football went on pause. A regular on the bench for Spurs this campaign, opportunities haven't been there for the player despite Conte having to deal with an injury crisis in attack at one point with Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison both out.
Seizing his chance with both hands in a dazzling 19-minute cameo against Sporting CP to help Tottenham get back into the game, Bryan also looked sharp in his limited minutes in the comeback win at Bournemouth. Fans would certainly like to see more of the Spaniard but that comes down to Conte taking a chance on him amid concerns over whether he is ready or not to play Premier League football on a weekly basis.
There's only one way Bryan can prove that he is ready, however, and that is by his boss handing him the minutes he wants and wowing in the process. Tottenham have a decision to make regarding the Spaniard over the coming weeks, with the January transfer window now one month away.
A good spell training under Conte could really give the Italian something to think about and it may result in a few more minutes once league football resumes again on Boxing Day.
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