Jermaine Jenas has called upon Tanguy Ndombele to show the sort of form for Tottenham that saw him catch the eye in the Champions League for Lyon against Manchester City last season.
The France midfielder earned a £60m transfer to North London last summer on the back of his performances for the Ligue 1 side but has struggled for consistency.
His standing within the squad has taken a hit since Jose Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the club, with Ndombele making just four starts under the Portuguese boss.
However, he was handed a start in the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Southampton, where Spurs are looking to secure a victory that would give them the opportunity to push into the quarter-finals of the competition, with a winnable tie against Norwich City lying in wait.
With Giovani Lo Celso missing the match through injury, the opportunity is there for Ndombele to make a claim for regular opportunities following the winter break, and Jenas has called upon him to impress.
"He's far too talented to not be a main starter in this team," he told BT Sport.
"I watched him during the spell at Lyon, when they went to Manchester City in the Champions League, he absolutely bossed the midfield at the Etihad.
"That night, I remember thinking that Spurs are desperate for someone like him. They've lost Wanyama, they've lost Dembele, they need that power in midfield.
"Since bringing him in, he's kind of showed it in little bits but he hasn't had that sustained place in the team and I think that is what has really frustrated Jose.
"I think he felt that there have been certain injuries that he could've played through, that other players would've played through, this is all speculation obviously, but it's a good opportunity to show these Spurs fans that he is worth it."
