Bryan Gil will be hoping it is the start of things to come for him at Tottenham after his starting role in Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa. Signed from Sevilla two years ago and spending the second half of the past two seasons back on loan in his home country, the winger's appearance against the Midlands club was only his 34th in all competitions for Spurs.
The vast majority of those have come from the bench, with previous managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte just not giving him that opportunity in the starting XI. Prior to Sunday, Gil had barely gotten a look-in under Ange Postecoglou after injury saw him miss the entirety of pre-season and kept him on the sidelines until early October.
Following two substitute appearances against Crystal Palace and Wolves, Gil was handed only his third Premier League start for the club as Postecoglou opted for a rather bold approach against Aston Villa. Rather than perhaps playing it safe and naming experienced duo Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in his team, the Australian instead named a back four comprising entirely of full-backs, Dejan Kulusevski operated in the No.10 role as he joined Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso in midfield and Gil came in on the left wing.
It was a big show of faith in the player, who has clearly made an impression on Postecoglou in training at Hotspur Way to come into the head coach's thinking for a starting spot against the Premier League high-flyers. There may always be concerns over Gil's physique in the Premier League due to his slight frame but he handled himself extremely well and made a big impression on those watching on.
Involved in a lot of good Spurs play and forcing Emiliano Martinez into a save at his near post, there
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