Jan Paul van Hecke will not travel to Thessaloniki with the Tottenham squad after picking up an injury during the Netherlands’ away game in Serbia. The defender is heading back to Tottenham Hotspur to recover, and the club has wished him a speedy return.
The Dutch international has been a key figure for Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi. When the Italian brought him to Hotspur Way, he said the signing would transform the team’s ability to build play from the back. De Zerbi knows the centre-back well from their time together at Brighton and was pleased to be working with him again. He described Van Hecke as strong, intelligent and fearless on the ball, with the personality to match, all qualities that suit the style he wants his side to play.
De Zerbi also praised the player’s character away from the pitch, calling him mature, a natural leader and someone eager to learn every day. He believes Van Hecke has improved a lot in recent years and can still grow further at Tottenham.
Although Spurs have slipped to the bottom of the Premier League, Van Hecke has done everything his manager has asked of him. Even with eight goals conceded in five winless games, he has stood out as one of the league’s top progressive passers among centre-backs this season, which is exactly what De Zerbi wanted from him.
De Zerbi will now hope to have him fit for Tottenham’s next league match, away at Manchester United on October 10 at 5:30pm.
