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#4 Erik Lamela
The Tottenham Hotspur star’s meteoric rise ran into a stone wall when he sustained a knock to the hip in October 2016 and missed all action for over a year. He only made his return in November last year and did show signs of resurgence.
He was used sparingly by manager Mauricio Pochettino, starting him in only 11 of the 31 games that he was available for. Yet, he managed to strike four times in all competitions and lay another 2 assists, whilst also maintaining an admirable 83% passing accuracy.
But Lamela’s contributions run deeper. He injects pressing intensity in a side and also instigates a transition with intelligent passes and sudden burst of acceleration. Very few players in the current Argentina squad are able to do that. He’s also adept at winning the ball high up against teams that like to sit deep, for example, group rivals Iceland.
The 26-year old is no doubt a technically gifted player and may be back on the international stage as soon as next year at the Copa America if he maintains fitness.
