Jose Mourinho says Joe Rodon is ready to start games for Tottenham in the Premier League.
The Wales centre-back has impressed in cameos for Spurs since his £11million switch from Swansea City on the last day of the transfer window.
In his last outing he replaced senior defender Toby Alderweireld during their 2-0 win over Manchester City last weekend. The Belgian limped off with a serious-looking injury, which has since been downgraded by the Portuguese.
Still, Alderweireld is looking at a two to four-week lay-off, and with Chelsea on the horizon this weekend, Mourinho says Rodon is up to speed to start for the north Londoners - and puts his quick adaption down to the level of the Championship.
He said : "Yes, I think he is ready to play. Of course he has not started a match in the Premier League. He played two little periods with us – Burnley and Manchester City.
"But the Championship is now a high level competition. It is not the best competition in Europe because the best is the Premier League. But it is much better than many countries’ Premier Leagues.
"So to play regular in the Championship I believe that gives to a player of quality and there are many there. It gives them a certain level of football, of intensity and of experience that allows the players to be good players. So yes we have Davinson for tomorrow. But for Sunday we have play Davinson and Rodon which we are okay, we are happy."
Spurs play Ludogorets in the Europa League on Thursday - a game in which Rodon is not registered for.
His impact hasn't got unnoticed, though, with team-mate Eric Dier equally impressed with Rodon, waxing lyrical about his attitude since his arrival from Swansea.
He said this week : "It's difficult as we haven't really spent a lot of time together since he arrived. From what I can see, he's very humble, very hard-working. From what I can see he has a fantastic mentality to want to work, to improve.
"From what I've seen [of him] around the training ground, all of those things have been fantastic, and I know the Welsh boys Ben (Davies) and Gareth (Bale) speak very highly of him. So excited for him to be able to help the team."
