Tottenham have no shortage of first-team players, with a number of international-quality stars forced to watch on from the sidelines or go out on loan as a result.

One of these players deemed to be surplus to requirements in Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad this season is Lewis Holtby.

The German playmaker has spent 2014-15 out on loan at Hamburg in his homeland, with the potential for regular action more prevalent in the Bundesliga than in North London.

However, given Pochettino’s selections at times this season, Holtby can consider himself as one of the most unlucky players on the Tottenham fringes.

Initially the signing of Christian Eriksen blocked the former Schalke man’s path into the Spurs starting XI, with the Dane playing as the designated number ten in the 4-2-3-1 system adopted by Andre Villas-Boas.

Now, with Pochettino adopting the same formation, Eriksen is still the side’s main creative force but has been deployed on the left-hand side of midfield rather than through the middle with increasing regularity.

Had this ploy been used during Holtby’s time in the first-team reckoning, the 24-year-old would surely have been first in line to take up the position behind a lone striker.

However, with the German out on loan this season, a number of other players have filled the role with questionable results.

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Paulinho was utilised in the number ten role in the recent 0-0 bore-fest at Burnley, with the Brazilian have minimal impact on the game.

More of a central midfielder traditionally, the former Corinthians man’s dull performance could well be the final nail in the coffin that is his Tottenham career.

Meanwhile, another midfielder accustomed to playing in a deeper role has also been given the chance to play further forward on occasion too, with Mousa Dembele having a run of games earlier in the year as the number ten.

Although the Belgian showcased better performances in the advanced position than he has in the boiler room this season, he failed to convince Pochettino fully of his merits as a long-term option for the position.

As such, with Spurs needing to regroup and assess the playing squad this summer, Holtby should be a player that is given a chance to show what he is capable of again in pre-season.

The Germany international arrived at White Hart Lane full of potential and with an excellent reputation, with fleeting glimpses of his ability during his time in England.

However, the absence of a prolonged run of games broke up his momentum and prevented him from displaying his best form.

With the 24-year-old’s excellent work-rate sure to fit into Pochettino’s ethos of pressing high up the pitch also, it appears that the German is an ideal addition ahead of next season.

Spurs have been guilty of signing good players but not giving them adequate opportunity to integrate into the team in recent years, with Gylfi Sigurdsson a classic example.

With Holtby, a second chance seems fitting, with the talented playmaker having the ability to be as good as a new signing ahead of next season.

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