With the World Cup only a couple of weeks away, the majority of the Tottenham Hotspur senior squad are gearing up for the action in Russia.
England have a host of Spurs men in their ranks, with a handful expected to start for Gareth Southgate’s men over the course of the summer.
Despite Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier being included, another of Tottenham’s homegrown heroes is desperately unlucky not to be on the plane to Russia.
Harry Winks has been sidelined for the last few months through injury, with the academy graduate’s development stunted as a result.
After impressive performances for Tottenham in big games last season, including against Real Madrid in the Champions League, it is clear to see that the gifted deep-lying playmaker has an important role to play for the club.
With England seemingly set to field a 3-4-2-1 system, similar to what Mauricio Pochettino adopts at times, Winks could well have been in contention to start for the Three Lions if he was fit.
Unlike the other options for central midfield berths, the Tottenham starlet possesses an enviable amount of footballing intelligence, a sublime passing range and the ability to knit together his side’s attacks.
England’s undoing could well be a lack of creativity in the heart of their team and Winks will be looking at the squad thinking he deserved a place in it if he was available.
While it is a setback for the Tottenham rising star, participation at the echelons of the game for both club and country await him in the near future.