Tottenham’s start to the new season has been less than convincing, with the North London club only picking up two points from their first three Premier League games.

Although there have been some positive spells in all three of the team’s games against Manchester United, Stoke and Leicester, a lack of consistency has been a key issue for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

Ahead of this weekend’s clash with Everton, the Argentine trainer has a number of selection dilemmas to make in the team’s bid to record their first win of the season.

Although a host of the side’s established players have under-performed to date, one man’s performances have been treated with particular scrutiny.

Kyle Walker has started the new season slowly and a section of the White Hart Lane faithful have been highly critical of the right-back for some time now.

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A proven England international and member of the Spurs starting XI for a number of seasons, the former Sheffield United right-back was at a time adjudged as one of the best in his position in the Premier League.

Walker’s turn of pace and willingness to get forward have been assets that have caught the eye when he has been at his best, but in recent weeks it appears that the defender has lost a lot of confidence.

The 25-year-old’s performances last season were also not at a level that the Spurs faithful have come to expect from him, with the defender missing a prolonged period of the campaign through injury, and then struggling to find his best form upon his return.

This season Walker has struggled to contain opposition wingers in a number of fixtures and has appeared to be a weak link in the Tottenham rearguard.

His positional play has always been something that Spurs fans have questioned, with the Englishman relying on his pace to salvage situations over the years.

On the front foot Walker has been an asset for the North London outfit in the past and has shown that he can be an attacking outlet for a team that at times has lacked width.

However, this season the Sheffield-born defender has looked shaky in possession and has been guilty of giving the ball away far too many times.

His final ball has always been an area that looks like it needs improving; this season the fact that Walker is not getting into promising positions at all is a concern.

The issue that Spurs have had over recent years has been a lack of viable competition for the defender in their squad, although this has changed over the last six months.

The addition of Kieran Trippier from Burnley and the acquisition of highly rated DeAndre Yedlin mean that should Pochettino want to take Walker out of the firing line he has others that can step into the breach.

Although Yedlin is still very raw and is most likely to spend the campaign out on loan if an appropriate suitor can be found, Tripper is ready to play if called upon.

An impressive performer in a Turf Moor outfit that impressed and showed no shortage of effort last season despite relegation, Trippier has a season of Premier League experience and has shown that he can compete in the top flight.

Dropping Walker may well help to refocus the England international, while Trippier’s introduction does not represent a weakening of the side at this time.

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