Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Heck is battling to find his best form, following a lukewarm start to the season. His latest performance in a national team clash against Serbia has drawn mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike.
Signed for a hefty £52 million from Brighton, van Heck was one of the first acquisitions made by manager Roberto De Zerbi. Initially, the fee raised eyebrows, with many believing it to be inflated, but it made sense given the player's previous success under De Zerbi.
Yet, van Heck's early performances in the Premier League have failed to convince. In Tottenham's recent defeat to Aston Villa, he struggled to keep pace with Nicolas Jackson, playing a part in the 3-2 loss. Fans are understandably frustrated, especially as young talent Luka Vuskovic shines at Brighton while van Heck, the more experienced option, has struggled to deliver.
The defender's issues have also surfaced on the international stage. After a lacklustre showing against Germany, he received mixed reviews for the Netherlands' victory over Serbia (2-1). Criticism from Voetbal Primeur was particularly stinging.
"It seems he has yet to shake off his dip in form at Tottenham, even while playing for Oranje. Van Heck misplaced several passes forward and appeared unfocused defensively at times."
Despite this, the newspaper BD suggested that national coach Havi would have been pleased with some aspects.
"The centre-back displayed sharpness, never holding back on passion and desire, qualities that Havi greatly values."
Sport Nieuws also offered a more positive assessment.
"Van Heck rebounded well from a poor outing against Germany. He looked far more assured on the ball and provided a more stable defensive presence."
Statistically, van Heck's performance in Belgrade wasn't terrible either. He completed 109 passes and won seven out of eight duels over the 90 minutes. However, 11 of his 13 defensive actions were simply clearances, lacking any tackles or blocked shots.
For Jan Paul van Heck to help lift Tottenham from the bottom of the league table, he must quickly find his top form. The club's next challenge awaits on October 10 against Manchester United.
