Rodon might expect more under Conte

ANTONIO Conte has been confirmed as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor at Tottenham Hotspur.

The experienced Italian is exactly the sort of candidate who many believe is needed to help turn around a club that has so often been accused of having underachievement in its DNA.

There are many glaring issues that Conte will need to sort. Not only does he have to get a dysfunctional attack, led by a worryingly out-of-sorts Harry Kane, working again but he will also have to shore up a defence that has so far shipped 16 goals this season.

It’s a frustrating stat for Spurs fans, but the club’s defensive deficiencies have also proved difficult to stomach for Wales and Swansea City fans too.

Few Swans fans could have begrudged Joe Rodon a move to the Premier League, although they were within their rights to have a grumble about the £11m price tag.

But the wider frustration from a Wales point of view has to be the lack of game-time that’s been afforded to the 24-year-old.

Rodon has so far made just 19 appearances in all competitions in his 12 months at the club, a pitiful total for a man of his abilities.

Under Santo he made just four starts, a state of affairs that has baffled Wales fans and Spurs supporters too, many of whom have been impressed with his cameos.

Sources in London have previously suggested that Rodon could be growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of gametime, but Conte’s arrival might well be the fresh start needed for the centre-back.

Indeed, many are already tipping the Italian to get the best out of the Wales international, and Conte’s favoured set-up means there is genuine hope that Rodon can finally kickstart his Spurs career.

The signs point towards Conte moving away from Nuno’s failed 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation and shifting instead to a back three with two attacking wing-backs, with three men at the heart of midfield.

Having spent so long competing with Eric Dier, Davison Sanchez and Cristian Romero for one of only two places at the heart of Nuno’s four-man defence, it’s a move that will potentially open up chances.

But more importantly, it’s clearly the sort of system that relies on a backline confident on the ball and in possession.

After watching his emergence under Graham Potter at Swansea, and to a lesser extent his time under Steve Cooper, you could argue that Rodon fits that bill like a glove.

Of course, there’s still healthy competition at centre-back whatever system Conte plays, but the Italian’s arrival has to be seen as a big opportunity for Rodon. Wales fans will certainly be hoping so too.