Roberto De Zerbi has described Dominic Solanke as 'maybe the best striker' for Tottenham Hotspur in the continued absence of Richarlison.
Solanke, 29, captained Spurs for the first time during their 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. He equalised in the second minute of second-half additional time, scoring his first goal in the Premier League since March.
Richarlison started the opening match of the season ahead of Solanke, who replaced him through the second half. However, the Brazilian is now not registered to play in the league after being frozen out by De Zerbi after asking to leave.
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De Zerbi spoke after the draw with Man United about making Solanke captain, with Micky van de Ven only featuring as a substitute. The club's second-choice skipper, Pedro Porro, is out injured, while third and fourth choice options Ben Davies and James Maddison were on the bench.
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Solanke, however, got the armband ahead of Archie Gray, who started at right-back. He captained Spurs in their first match of the season against Brentford and in the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Liverpool.
De Zerbi named him as the fifth of their captains in August. However, he said Solanke "deserved" the armband.
Explaining the decision, De Zerbi said: "Because he suffered maybe too much. Because 'Tottenham didn't win, Tottenham didn't score, who is the striker of Tottenham? Solanke is not good enough'.
"It's not true, Solanke is good enough to play; maybe he is the best striker for us, because of his qualities. He is a complete player; he is a good guy; he has personality.
"He has to feel good in terms of his physical condition, but he is a great player. I wanted to show what is my confidence, and what is the importance I give him in this team.
"After the last game, the criticism, I wanted to put him as captain, to show my confidence and the confidence of the team, because all other players were happy when I said that Domi Solanke is captain.
"When one player of us is in a difficult situation, all other players and staff and myself, we have to show, to be close with him, like a family, like a team, like a normal team."