If Destiny Udogie is called up to the Italy squad despite having not played a competitive Tottenham game yet for Thomas Frank that might help the new head coach.
Djed Spence has been starring on the left in Udogie's absence following the Italian's knee injury which kept him out of the club's pre-season tour to Hong Kong and South Korea. In all the 22-year-old left-back has been out since feeling a problem with that knee during the warm-up before Spurs' pre-season friendly against Luton Town on July 26.
Udogie has had a slightly fragmented time at Tottenham since arriving from Udinese, having played 28 and 25 Premier League games in his first two seasons at the north London club due to hamstring and adductor injuries over those past couple of years.
However, he returned to be a key part of Spurs' Europa League-winning run last season and Frank had some good news on the young full-back at his press conference at Hotspur Way on Friday.
"Destiny is better, he's trained with the team twice, full training, but just too short to be involved at City," he said. "We want him to train tomorrow and have another good week next week, but he's in a good place, we're very positive about him."
Despite his lack of game time, new Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso might decide to call up Udogie for the World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel early next month with the squad set to be announced on Friday.
While some Tottenham supporters might be concerned about Udogie being pushed too hard on Italy duty, if both club and country consider him to be ready and he gets minutes against Bournemouth, then the appropriate amount of time spent playing for his country could help Udogie overcome some of the lack of pre-season he had.
Every little will help Frank and the player as the games come thick and fast after the international break with the Champions League and Carabao Cup on the menu so bumping up his match fitness and sharpness could be a welcome boost to all concerned.