Tottenham’s Eric Dier has a future as a holding midfielder, according to Mauricio Pochettino. The experiment to position the defender further forward is not entirely new as Dier has experience of that role. Pochettino selecting him in midfield – with the likes of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb having to make way in Tottenham’s games this season – is a show of faith in how much the manager believes in Dier’s potential and appears to want him on the pitch.

“We needed to give the option to Eric Dier to play,” said Pochettino, who takes his team to Leicester City on Saturday. “I made that decision from the start of pre-season. He played well in midfield and was comfortable in that position. He played it before – in Portugal they play like a centre-back or holding midfielder – and I am very happy with his performance.”

Dier’s versatility is a big plus point for Pochettino. “His skill is he can play in different positions in the pitch. He started last season as a full-back and scored in the first two games. He can play at centre-back. It’s good for him because he is young and he improves a lot as when you play in different positions you add to your game, gain better tools to be a better player.”

Having played some games at right-back last season, which he was not entirely thrilled about, Dier is much happier in his current role, according to Pochettino. When the Tottenham manager was asked of Dier’s best position he accidentally mentioned striker but once he corrected himself, he mentioned both holding midfield and centre-back. The England Under-21 man may well be in for more games developing in the midfield heartland.