Tottenham Hotspur legend Ledley King has been waxing lyrical about central defender Eric Dier.
The lowdown: Regular feature
Dier has been a mainstay for Spurs this season, completing 90 minutes on 28 occasions from 29 outings overall in the Premier League.
Having transformed from a defensive midfielder, the 28-year-old has formed a solid trio alongside Ben Davies and Cristian Romero under Antonio Conte in recent months.
Despite facing early criticism having moved back into defence, a fellow top-level centre-back has been hailing Dier's recent form...
The latest: King impressed
Speaking during BT Sport's coverage prior to the defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion, ex-Spurs stalwart King was full of praise for the England ace:
“Do you know what? With Eric, it was his first proper season as a centre-half – where he committed to being a centre-half – last season. So I think he found it a little bit difficult. This season, with a year under his belt, he seems a lot more confident.
“But one thing that struck me about Eric straight away was that he was a leader. He was a vocal player on the pitch and I think someone like him has been perfect for Romero. He’s a really intelligent guy too, he speaks different languages so it’s helped definitely.”
The verdict: Transformation complete
There can be no doubt Dier has endured a difficult spell in what was at one stage a blossoming career for the 45-cap England man. Despite one-time being a shoo-in for the Three Lions, the Cheltenham-born defender now hasn't appeared for Gareth Southgate's side since November 2020.
However, following some early struggles as a central defender, this season Dier boasts an impressive 6.96 average rating in the Premier League, helping to keep 12 clean sheets and making 3.7 clearances per game (Sofascore).
With a World Cup in Qatar to come at the end of 2022, a potential top-four finish and UEFA Champions League football on the horizon, Dier will no doubt welcome the recognition for an upturn in form ahead of a monumental year.
In other news: Tottenham eyeing move for European based defender, find out more here.