Nacer Chadli was again on the score-sheet at Saturday’s North London derby, with another astutely taken finish. That’s four goals in five starts for the Belgian – a prolific record for any player, but especially so for one who, if we’re being brutally honest, has never looked like the most talented option in Spurs’ attacking armoury.

He hasn’t got much pace, lacks the trickery to beat defenders, doesn’t possess an eye for a defence-splitting pass, and is not the kind of forward who scores from spectacular 30-yard efforts.

But Chadli does have one particular quality that makes him an effective performer – intelligence.

On ESPN’s website, Michael Cox described Chadli as:

‘A peculiar footballer, someone who could be termed a “system player” — he’s rarely likely to be the star, will never have a side based around him, but will nevertheless always be useful because of his positional intelligence.’

Chadli may not be as flashy, but his economical use of the ball is far more effect than Townsend’s effort

Chadli may not have much natural ability, but he uses his brains to maximise his talent. He is the kind of player who helps bring out the best in those around him, by selecting the right pass, making the right run, and getting into the best positions.

Compare this to Andros Townsend, one of his main rivals for a starting berth. The Englishman is always a very lively performer, constantly running, beating his man and taking shots on, but very rarely has a positive contribution to the team.

Tellingly, of the 56 shots he attempted in the league last season, the only one to go in was a miss-hit cross again Aston Villa – and a miss-shot deflected by Roberto Soldado against Nottingham Forest last week became his first assist of the season, having not registered any in the whole 2013/14 premier league season.

Chadli may not be as flashy, but his economical use of the ball is far more effect than Townsend’s efforts, and allows creative players like Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen to flourish.

Last season he toiled as the players around him weren’t creative enough, with only Eriksen – when he was selected – offering any real imagination. Towards the end of the season Tim Sherwood even positioned him in the hole behind the sticker, where his lack of natural creativity was painfully exposed.

Chadli is not a Gareth Bale-esque player who can make chances out of nothing – he needs to combine with other attackers capable of dribbling past opponents and threading difficult passes.

So long as the star men Eriksen, Lamela and Adebyayor stay fit and on-form, expect Chadli to continue to excel

This season, by contrast, Chadli has relished playing alongside Lamela. The Argentine provides exactly the kind of skill and penetration that was missing last season, and that Chadli is able to compliment. Note how it was Lamela’s quick feet and inch-perfect pass that led to the goal at the Emirates, and again that it was his dangerous run and exquisite cross that set up Chaldi’s headed second goal against QPR.

A lack of creativity in the squad as a whole remains a concern, and Chadli is certainly no answer to that problem. But so long as the star men Eriksen, Lamela and Adebyayor stay fit and on-form, expect Chadli to continue to excel.