Tottenham Hotspur have been lights out defensively lately, and they are currently fresh off two 2-0 clean sheet victories over London rivals Chelsea and Crystal Palace. In both of those games, new center back signing Jan Paul van Hecke was one of the team's best overall players, and he even set a team record for completed passes in a single game last weekend against the Eagles, scoring the game sealing goal to boot.
Van Hecke will be crucial again this weekend in further Premier League action against a Leeds United side that is mostly known for their great defending, which means timely headers and runs into the box from Van Hecke could be decisive for Spurs, too, in addition to his creativity and world class passing and progression on the ball as Spurs look to dominate possession beyond belief once more.
But Van Hecke will also be important to the Tottenham cause for what he is primarily in the side for, which is defending. Leeds are far from studded with attacking stars, but they do have a dangerous Premier League veteran at the striker position in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who clearly leads his line with four goals, which is a number that puts Dominic Solanke and the Tottenham attacking force to shame.
Coming into the season, Jan Paul van Hecke had criticism over his head about, well, his heading, because despite his tall frame, he was not known for being an effective defender in the air. That has not been the case at all for Tottenham Hotspur thus far. Van Hecke has looked fantastic in the air, and he has a great chance to prove that point and drive it home this weekend against the Peacocks and Calvert-Lewin.
Van Hecke is one of the highest rated players in the Premier League on the rating apps, and his number of progressive and line breaking passes is becoming the stuff of legend. He is the best defender on the ball in the Premier League and one of the best overall defenders, too, averaging 2.8 combined tackles and interceptions per game to just 0.6 dribbles allowed per match. He is averaging 90 passes per game and a completion percentage around 91.
On Saturday, Van Hecke can enhance his sleeper case to not just being Tottenham's Player of the Season but also a Premier League Player of the Season candidate, as Leeds are ripe for the taking for Van Hecke to boss the game on the pitch while blanketing DLC to prove his defensive quality.