1 Tottenham winger Andros Townsend

Football statistic experts WhoScored.com give their verdict on an exciting Tottenham talent. Check out more Spurs stats on WhoScored.com, but first it’s time for an in-depth analysis of youth team product Andros Townsend…

When Tottenham sold Gareth Bale, supporters pondered who would be the best replacement for the powerful Welshman. In the end, Erik Lamela was signed from Roma for a club record £30m as the club strengthened significantly thanks to the reported £85m Real Madrid paid for Bale. However, despite receiving a WhoScored.com rating of 7.58 with the Serie A side – the highest for the Italian team last term – the Argentine is yet to start a Premier League fixture for the north London side.

Much of that is down to the recent performances of winger Andros Townsend. After nine loan spells at teams across differing levels in the Football League, the 22-year-old has sought to make the position on the right wing at White Hart Lane his own. Starting four of their five league games this term, the youngster has aimed to ease the loss of Bale with his directness from the flank.

This is exhibited in his average of 5.5 shots per game this season, with his preference being to cut in on to his left and letting rip. As a result, his insistence on shooting has seen the winger clock 22 shots on goal this term; only Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud (23) has had more, and the striker has played one more game than Townsend.

This desire to test the goalkeeper may have seen him have eight shots on target this season – no player has more in the Premier League – but without a goal to his name, fans have aired their frustration with him at times.

Nevertheless, he’s still offering a penetrative threat on the wing, which was the primary concern of supporters after Bale’s departure. Townsend’s aim to fill the void left by the Real forward is palpable having dribbled past an opponent on 19 occasions this season. Only Ross Barkley (22) has done so more times in the Premier League, but the Spurs man’s average of 4.8 successful dribbles per game is the best return in the top flight.

Evidently, beating his man isn’t a problem and emphasises his WhoScored.com strength of dribbling. This flair on the wing is a facet Spurs supporters have grown to love in their players, with David Ginola forever a fan favourite as a result of his blistering runs down the flank during his time in north London in the late ’90s.

Townsend’s ability to scamper down the wing has won him admirers across the country, with England manager Roy Hodgson handing him a senior England call up earlier this season. Yet, while his directness is an attractive asset to boast, his final product has left a lot to be desired, as noted in the fact he is still without a goal.

This notion is further reinforced in that the wideman has been successful with just 15 per cent of his 20 attempted crosses this term. In addition, of the Spurs players who have started at least one Premier League game this season, Townsend’s average of 34.5 passes per game is only better than Gylfi Sigurdsson (27), Roberto Soldado (23) and Hugo Lloris (20.4).

Townsend is an exciting player to watch, of that there is no doubt. His performances this season means his average WhoScored.com rating currently sits at 7.59, the highest of every Spurs player. If he can improve on his decision making and final ball, complimenting his ability to run at the opposition, there is no reason why he can’t ease the pain associated with the departure of Bale, while breaking into Hodgson’s England team for the next round of World Cup qualifiers isn’t unrealistic either.

For more stats on Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend, click here to view his WhoScored.com profile