Former Spurs skipper backs star man to ‘lead by example’ this season – and highlights where the team must still improve | OneFootball

Former Tottenham captain Michael Dawson has backed Cristian Romero to shine in his new leadership role for Spurs this season.

Romero was heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer but has since been appointed as the new skipper and has signed a new four-year deal with the club.

On the decision to appoint him captain, Dawson, who played for Spurs for nine years between 2005 and 2014, says he thinks the Argentine will lead by example following Heung-min Son’s departure.

“I’m a big fan of Cristian Romero, him and Micky van de Ven, if you’d have gone with either of them, or even Vicario,” Sky Sports pundit Dawson discussed with Hayters TV.

“But I’d rather probably have a centre-half as my captain when Sonny left, a great servant for the football club.

“It was who was Thomas (Frank) going to pick, he went for Cristian. He’s going to have a big responsibility because we know he plays on that edge and he has to lead by example.

“I think it’s great, he’s had a good pre-season and he’s been given the armband. World Cup winner, leader and he’s going to have to do that all season.”

Tottenham started their season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley in head coach Thomas Frank’s first league game in charge.

But Dawson believes Spurs still need to add a new signing in the number 10 role – and says Ebere Eze, who Tottenham are in talks over signing, could be the answer following a serious injury to James Maddison.

“I’m absolutely devastated for James Maddison,” he said.

“When he plays he’s a top player. He picked up a few injuries at the end of last season. He’s come back ready for the start and then picks up an ACL injury so no one will be as gutted as what he will feel after doing the pre-season.

“I think with Kulusevski out as well, Sonny leaving, I think it’s a position that, listening to Thomas Frank, he realises that they have to strengthen because they lost James who is a massive asset in that position.

“With Champions League, so many competitions, so many games, I’m sure they will be looking to strengthen in that area.

“I’m a big fan of Morgan Gibbs-White. I was wondering was that going to happen. Obviously, he signed a new deal at Nottingham Forest.

“Huge fan of Eze as well. That buy-out clause, I think it was £68 million and I think that has run out. Whether something will happen, I’m not too sure. But yes, huge, huge fan of Eze and I certainly could see him fitting in that Tottenham team for sure.”