There have not been too many Tottenham Hotspur players in recent years who have split opinion quite like Mathys Tel.
The Frenchman has been regularly derided by the fanbase in north London, not just so far this season, but at times last season too, despite being one of the only players in a struggling team look like trying to get the side on the front foot.
End product has always been the stick to beat him with and that was no more evident than in a moment against Newcastle United that went viral on social media, when he blazed a free-kick in a dangerous position high over the bar.
Talksport pundit and former Tottenham player Jamie O'Hara said earlier in the season: "Why is Tel still playing? I’d rather Richarlison played. He’s guff, he’s terrible, he’s got trampoline feet. He’s everything that’s bad about Tottenham."
Tel started the first three games of the season, before dropping to the bench for the goalless draw with Everton and then not being named in the squad at all for the defeat to Aston Villa before the international break.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi explained the decision, saying: "Technical decision. He was in the stands, because I think during the game, [James] Maddison and [Mohammed] Kudus, they had more chances to change the game, and then two centre‑backs, important, also the two full‑backs, have a look for Pedro Porro, with Archie Gray, and the two central midfielders."
It was no problem. He was very nice and he understood the reason, but nothing more, and also he played more than the others.
Criticism of Tel is perhaps over the top, considering his age and what he has joined in the white half of north London.
He only turned 21 earlier this year and only arrived at Spurs a year-and-a-half ago, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent last summer. In that time he has only played in a struggling Tottenham outfit, finishing 17th in the Premier League in both the seasons he has been involved. He is yet to show what he can do in a fully functioning, well-oiled and well-drilled Tottenham side.
It must also not be forgotten, that prior to arriving in England, as a 19-year-old, he had only actually started 16 games for Bayern Munich in Germany, proving that he was still very raw.
Why playing for Tottenham will not have been easy for Tel
Being thrown into a struggling Spurs side was perhaps not the best platform for him, but could work out to be the perfect bedding in experience if he does kick on and showcase what he can do.
Being left out of the squad to face Villa will surely have lit a fire underneath him and he will have something of a point to prove to De Zerbi when the Premier League returns.
And he has certainly shown that during the international break, so much so, that an argument can be made that he simply has to start against Manchester United in the 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday.
Mathys Tel stats:
Tel was called up to the France U21 squad for the extended three-week break as they concluded their Euro U21 Championship qualifying group - he has been a regular for them since 2023 - and he was in tip-top form. The 21-year-old captained the side in the three games that he started, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Iceland U21s.
Coming off the bench against Luxembourg, he scored the winning goal in a 3-2 but the best was yet to come. In their final group game, France smashed Switzerland 7-1, with Tel netting a hat-trick and laying on an assist too, leaving him with five goals and one assist from the international break.
The forward regularly plays through the middle as the centre-forward for France U21s, a role he has played for Tottenham, albeit sporadically. He has tended to be employed off the left wing in a Lilywhite shirt, but given his international form, a role through the middle could be on the cards when Premier League football returns.
Tel will be full of confidence, following his outings with his country and, with Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush yet to score this season, having played four of the five Premier League games as the main striker this season, it could be the perfect opportunity and role change for Tel to kickstart his Spurs career.