Arnaut Danjuma has had to be very patient indeed for minutes to come his way since joining Tottenham on a season-long loan deal from Villarreal. On course to link up with Everton before a dramatic U-turn, the Netherlands international became Spurs' first signing of the January transfer window to give Antonio Conte's team a further attacking boost at the business end of the season.
Making an immediate impact from the substitutes' bench with a debut goal away at Preston North End in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Danjuma has only featured in two games since then. Given the final 11 minutes as Tottenham searched for a way back into the game at Leicester City before conceding a fourth goal two minutes later, he was then introduced in the 81st minute as they looked for an equaliser in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie away at AC Milan.
Just about enough time for a player to get up to the speed of the game let alone make a telling impact, Danjuma, as well as Spurs fans, will be hoping that an increase in minutes comes his way over the next few weeks. Always set to be a tough challenge for the 26-year-old with players such as Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison ahead of him in the pecking order, Danjuma was going to need to grasp his opportunity when it came his way in his quest to become a starter for Tottenham in the Premier League.
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He is more than likely to be on the substitutes' bench again this Sunday against Chelsea as Son netted against West Ham last weekend and Kulusevski looked a totally different player in the second half. But next Wednesday's FA Cup encounter against Sheffield United could hand Conte and Cristian Stellini the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at their January signing from the off.
There will likely be a few changes here and there due to the hectic schedule, so Tottenham can tinker with their frontline and still name an extremely strong attacking trident to get the better of the Blades at Bramall Lane. Given his 39 minutes across his three Tottenham appearances so far, it really is the ideal chance to give the player his go and that in turn could give the head coach a real attacking headache for the following games if he seizes his opportunity.
Tottenham, who are now back in fourth after their win over West Ham, do have a favourable set of fixtures on the cards with Wolves and Nottingham Forest on the calendar following their FA Cup outing in South Yorkshire. The Lilywhites are due to finish March with an away game at Southampton, although there is a chance that game will have to be rearranged for later in the campaign with both sides still in the FA Cup and the quarter-finals due to be played that weekend.
That run of games could play into Danjuma's hands if he can continue his FA Cup heroics or he is given sufficient time on the pitch this Sunday against Chelsea. Fellow January signing Pedro Porro is also in the same boat as the Netherlands ace as things stand following his switch from Sporting CP.
Seen as the player to come in and revolutionise the right wing-back role due to the impressive numbers he recorded in Portugal, the ex-Man City player has only made one appearance from a possible four so far. That was in the 4-1 humbling at Leicester City, with Porro given a tough introduction to life in the Premier League as he struggled in his 75 minutes on the pitch.
Just needing the game time at present to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League, what has not exactly helped the Spaniard's case of late is Emerson Royal's best form in a Tottenham shirt. Previously struggling in the right wing-back berth, the 2021 summer addition has gone from strength to strength recently and chipped in with goals and some outstanding performances, thus really making him an undroppable at the moment in the Tottenham XI.
Emerson could be handed a breather at Sheffield United, though, and that will only benefit Porro if Conte and Stellini do indeed make that alteration. The current competition for places at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may prove vital come the end of the season with the players pushing their rivals to new levels as Tottenham look to secure another top-four finish and hopefully end their silverware drought.
It's exactly what is needed at Tottenham and those who come in at Sheffield United will have the opportunity to change Conte and Stellini's thinking. Unfortunately seeing very little of Danjuma and Porro in a Tottenham shirt so far, the cup encounter against the Blades could prove to be a key moment in their Spurs careers as they bid to show everyone why exactly they were brought to N17 back in January.
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