Erik Lamela may have struggled to make an impression in his first season at White Hart Lane, but if he wanted to announce himself to the Premier League this term, a 20 yard ‘Rabona’ would certainly do the trick.

While few Spurs fans really felt Lamela a flop in his first year, the several injury problems he endured from Christmas onwards meant that any chance he did have to cement himself in the first team were severely reduced.

But a Summer free of injury, and without World Cup duties with Argentina, seems to have helped towards a physically and mentally refreshed approach, and performances not hampered by a £30m price-tag.

Lamela, 22, has only played 17 league games in his Spurs career, only 11 starts, and eight of those have been this season. Having been in the plans of Andre Villas-Boas pre-injury, while regaining fitness, interim manager Tim Sherwood favoured alternatives.

The Argentine may well be key to how Tottenham’s season will progress – will he be able to continue his improvement and produce the form that saw him net 15 in 33 league appearances for Roma in his last season in Serie A, and the form that enabled him to force himself back into the Argentina squad. Or will he retreat to the player that started off last season at Spurs, and too often went missing for large periods. Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to get the most from his countryman, and for Lamela to help his side to a top four finish.