Huge year for Tottenham leader Lloris

It is a measure of how under much Hugo Lloris is under-appreciated that commentators regularly refer to Harry Kane as Tottenham captain. Understandably Kane leads from the front when he plays, and those qualities were recognised by Gareth Southgate when he chose the Spurs striker as captain ahead of Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson when England were preparing for last summer’s World Cup campaign.

But ask Mauricio Pochettino, or any of his staff at Spurs, and they will tell you the beating heart of Tottenham Hotspur, the senior pro and the man for the big occasion is Lloris. Quiet and understated he may be, but Lloris is one victory away from adding a Champions League winner’s medal the one he won with France as he led his side to victory over Croatia in the World Cup final last July.