Tottenham's Ben Davies is enjoying the challenge of playing at centre-back for Ange Postecoglou's high-risk side and looking forward to the return of Cristian Romero, who is expected to partner the Welshman at the back for Thursday's visit of West Ham.
Davies has been filling in centrally, next to fellow full-back Emerson Royal, in the last two games, since Romero was sent off against Chelsea, ruling him out for three matches.
Shortly after his red card, Spurs' other preferred centre-back, Micky van de Ven, pulled up with a serious hamstring injury which is expected to rule him out until January.
Since Romero left the field against the Blues, Postecoglou's side have conceded 11 goals and been less fluent at playing out from the back.
Davies says Emerson has done well in the circumstances, including in Sunday's 3-3 draw at Manchester City, but described Romero's return as a "big boost" for Spurs.
"It's enjoyable [playing at centre-back]," Davies told Standard Sport. "We get a lot of the ball.
"You're expected to defend one-on-one in big spaces at times but I don't think when you look at the goals we've conceded that has been our issue.
"Emerson's stepped in and done well for us. It's tough. We've played four traditional full-backs but things are in a case of needs must. We're working hard.
"Against City, Emerson had a lot of the ball, he was brave, he kept trying to play out even though at times it was difficult but I thought overall he handled himself very well."
Asked how Romero had been during his suspension, Davies added: "He has been training well and that's where I see him the most is on the training pitch.
"He's conducted himself well. He hasn't been able to play so he has been helping the boys in every way he can. I think he'll be ready to go.
"He's obviously a top, top player and when players like him are fit they need to be involved. It'll definitely a big boost for us to have him playing."
Despite the makeshift nature of Spurs' back four at the Etihad, Erling Haaland drew a rare blank after an uncharacteristically wasteful display in front of goal.
"Romero has been training well... he'll be ready to go and it'll be a big boost for us to have him back"
"He plays on your concentration levels, he's constantly making runs that challenge you, he's constantly threatening you at every opportunity and the moment you switch off is the moment he's clinical," said Davies, who created Spurs' second goal with a diving header in front of the Norwegian.
"Luckily on Sunday I don't think he had too many opportunities, apart from one in the first half that was probably of our own making."
He added: "We showed a lot of character in the second half. In the first half maybe we were a bit too respectful of such a good side and we weren't our best self. I thought second half, even when it was tough, we had a real go and I think overall a point is probably fair.
"It got to the stage in the game where we needed to be a bit more aggressive. You're expected to be in positions where you're one-v-one against these players and luckily I read it and it was a good header forward into some space [for our second goal]. It was a great finish [from Giovani Lo Celso] in the end."
