BBC pundit wants Tottenham player who will 'struggle' to be axed v West Ham, Cristian Romero has to return
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Cristian Romero has to come straight back into the team when Tottenham face West Ham on Thursday (7 December), while Emerson Royal should be axed as he will always "struggle" defensively says Alan Hutton.
Star centre-back Romero has missed Spurs' last three matches through suspension, with defeats to Wolves and Aston Villa preceding the thrilling 3-3 draw against Manchester City in his absence.
With centre-back partner Micky van de Ven also out injured, Ange Postecoglou has been fielding a makeshift centre-back pairing of Emerson and Ben Davies, both of whom are more at home at full-back.
For Hutton it is a no-brainer for Argentina World Cup winner Romero to take his place back, while adding that Emerson has a weakness defensively regardless of where he plays.
Speaking to Tottenham News, Hutton said: "Yeah I think so (Romero comes back in) for me.
"As soon as you can get your top two centre-halves back, obviously Romero comes back in off suspension, Van de Ven's obviously out for long term, I think that helps.
"Emerson for me, he's not a centre-half, I think even at full-back he'll struggle in terms of defensively.
"So Romero, he's been very good I think since Van de Ven's come in, I think they complement each other really well, so for me he comes back in no problem."
Romero has played 60 Premier League matches in total for Tottenham, keeping 15 clean sheets in those games and scoring on three occasions.
Spurs are fifth in the Premier League after 14 matches, nine points adrift of leaders and north London rivals Arsenal, who have played a game more having beaten Luton Town 4-3 in a thriller on Tuesday (5 December).
Postecoglou's side can cut that gap back to six if they beat West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.