‘Superb’ Eriksen now among best playmakers in world says Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen believes Tottenham team-mate Christian Eriksen is now among the best playmakers in the world after the Dane’s sensational start to the season.

Vertonghen knows Eriksen well, having played with the midfielder at Ajax for three years before he moved to Spurs in 2012 and Eriksen followed a year later.

Eriksen, pictured, has been superb so far this term, contributing three assists and two goals already in the Premier League. He finished last season with 15 assists, second only to Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.

Consistency, rather than talent, has been Eriksen’s issue since joining Spurs in 2013 but Vertonghen says the 25-yearold has matured. Asked if Eriksen was up there with the finest playmakers in the world, Vertonghen said: “I believe so, yeah. I think Christian has made unbelievable progress.

“I’ve known him for many years and he’s always been a great talent, a great player but in the last two seasons he’s made great progress.

“He’s scoring goals and giving assists and even when he drops a line, what he did for us in a couple of games, he does very well. Christian, especially in the last two seasons, has been enormous.”

Tottenham face APOEL in the Champions League Group H tonight, butvertonghen is serving a one-match ban after receiving two yellow cards against Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “I don’t think I deserved that red card, but if not I’m on a yellow card and I can miss any other game with another yellow. (But) I’ve got confidence in the team..”