'Short in that area': Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou reveals why club splashed £25m on 21-year-old star

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed highly-rated defender Radu Dragusin will start his first game for the club at Fulham tomorrow. The 21-year-old was signed in January for £25million from Genoa, but only enjoyed his first 45 minutes at Villa Park in the 4-0 win.

But a hamstring injury to Micky van de Ven means Postecoglou can now call on his Romania international defender. The Spurs boss also revealed Dragusin was bought because they needed more options in defence.

Postecoglou told reporters: I’ll take the suspense out of it - he’ll start tomorrow. It’s a good opportunity for him. We obviously brought him in with a view that it was evident we were very short in that area, and he’d had a very good half-season in Italy. 

"He’s had to be patient for his opportunity, which isn’t surprising because Micky and Cristian have been outstanding for us. And with only a game a week, and sometimes not even that, he’s had to be patient. And I said to him when we signed him I couldn’t guarantee him... or I couldn't tell him when he’d get an opportunity but he would get an opportunity. I thought he did well when he came on the other day. 

"It was good that the team was already in a good rhythm but the scoreline was still 0-0 at the time, He contributed to how we finished the game. 

"He’s a pretty assured young guy. He has belief in himself, he has really good people around him. I think he can bring something to the team. He’s a very strong defender, very good in the duels, and I think we’re going to need that tomorrow." 

Fulham have lost 14 of their last 16 Premier League games against Tottenham and are winless in nine top-flight meetings since a 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane on 17 March 2013 so Spurs are huge favourites for this one.