Tottenham's Mousa Dembele is Europe's best box-to-box midfielder, according to the CIES Football Observatory's latest study.

The Belgian, who was recently banned for six games after a clash with Chelsea striker Diego Costa, has been in inspired form for Mauricio Pochettino's side this season.

Dembele has made 29 Premier League appearances this term and is regularly paired alongside Eric Dier in the centre of the park.

While the England international is charged with the sole task of sitting deep to shield the back four, Mauricio Pochettino also encourages Dembele to push forward and support attacks when an opportunity arises.

Tottenham vs Southampton: Player Ratings 12 show all Tottenham vs Southampton: Player Ratings 1/12 Player Ratings? Who impressed at the Lane? 2/12 Hugo Lloris: 5 The Frenchman had little to do throughout the game but was at fault for Steven Davis' equaliser on the half-hour mark and will be disappointed with himself. 3/12 Kyle Walker: 5 Although Dusan Tadic proved to be a little workshy in regards to tracking back Walker rarely got the better of the Serbian midfielder, who was a constant threat. 4/12 Toby Alderweireld: 6 Caught out by Shane Long's pace on a couple of occasions and did not cut the composed figure which has earned him so many plaudits this season. 5/12 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Stepped out from defence confidently whenever the opportunity arose but, like Alderweireld, struggled to cope with Shane Long's speed. 6/12 Danny Rose: 6 The full back was charged with stifling an in-form Sadio Mane and won his individual duel. Far from flawless, but refused to give up on a number of lost causes and bombed up and down the flank in searing heat. 7/12 Eric Dier: 6 The midfielder did not look as assured without Mousa Dembele alongside him and was bypassed by Davis far too easily for the Northern Irishman's second goal. 8/12 Ryan Mason: 5 Started well enough but when Southampton began to turn the screw the game passed the midfielder by. Simply unable to fill Dele Alli's shoes. Julian Finney/Getty Images 9/12 Erik Lamela: 6 Involved in plenty of nice interchanges and claimed an assist for the goal, even if his pass did not appear to be intentionally aimed at Heung-min Son. 10/12 Christian Eriksen: 6 Missed an early chance, which ended up epitomising his entire performance. Encouraging in glimpses but, overall, lacking a cutting edge. 11/12 Heung-min Son: 7 Tottenham's best players. The South Korean scored his fourth goal of the season with an accomplished finish when he refused to give up on what was a lost cause and got his just rewards. A real livewire but eventually ran out of steam and was withdrawn. 12/12 Harry Kane: 6 Not the striker's best afternoon. He did not fashion many chances and spurned the ones which fell his way, the most notable of which was an effort on the stroke of half time when it appeared easier to pass to Erik Lamela rather than go it alone. 1/12 Player Ratings? Who impressed at the Lane? 2/12 Hugo Lloris: 5 The Frenchman had little to do throughout the game but was at fault for Steven Davis' equaliser on the half-hour mark and will be disappointed with himself. 3/12 Kyle Walker: 5 Although Dusan Tadic proved to be a little workshy in regards to tracking back Walker rarely got the better of the Serbian midfielder, who was a constant threat. 4/12 Toby Alderweireld: 6 Caught out by Shane Long's pace on a couple of occasions and did not cut the composed figure which has earned him so many plaudits this season. 5/12 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Stepped out from defence confidently whenever the opportunity arose but, like Alderweireld, struggled to cope with Shane Long's speed. 6/12 Danny Rose: 6 The full back was charged with stifling an in-form Sadio Mane and won his individual duel. Far from flawless, but refused to give up on a number of lost causes and bombed up and down the flank in searing heat. 7/12 Eric Dier: 6 The midfielder did not look as assured without Mousa Dembele alongside him and was bypassed by Davis far too easily for the Northern Irishman's second goal. 8/12 Ryan Mason: 5 Started well enough but when Southampton began to turn the screw the game passed the midfielder by. Simply unable to fill Dele Alli's shoes. Julian Finney/Getty Images 9/12 Erik Lamela: 6 Involved in plenty of nice interchanges and claimed an assist for the goal, even if his pass did not appear to be intentionally aimed at Heung-min Son. 10/12 Christian Eriksen: 6 Missed an early chance, which ended up epitomising his entire performance. Encouraging in glimpses but, overall, lacking a cutting edge. 11/12 Heung-min Son: 7 Tottenham's best players. The South Korean scored his fourth goal of the season with an accomplished finish when he refused to give up on what was a lost cause and got his just rewards. A real livewire but eventually ran out of steam and was withdrawn. 12/12 Harry Kane: 6 Not the striker's best afternoon. He did not fashion many chances and spurned the ones which fell his way, the most notable of which was an effort on the stroke of half time when it appeared easier to pass to Erik Lamela rather than go it alone.

Statistics show Dembele fulfills the role better than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, with rigour, recovery, distribution, takes ons, chance creation and shooting all taken into account.

The position requires a player to be competent in all six categories and Dembele's performances were enough to see him claim top spot ahead of Paris Saint Germain's Blaise Matuidi.

Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, whose career continues to be plagued by injury, secured third place while Dele Alli, who represents the youngest player included in the top 10, was adjudged to be worthy of fourth spot.

Juventus talisman Paul Pogba is further back in sixth place while Manchester City's Yaya Toure is the only other Premier League representative.

Dembele's ranking suggests Spurs will miss the 28-year-old's influence during his suspension, which has ruled the midfielder out of the remainder of the season, plus the first four games of next term.

Tottenham struggled in Dembele's absence during Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Southampton, with Ryan Mason failing to fill the void left behind by the Belgian.

Spurs now face a battle to secure second spot ahead of Arsenal but travel to Newcastle on the final day of the season with the knowledge that one point will be enough to secure bragging rights in the capital, bar a huge swing in goal difference.