Tottenham take on Aston Villa today in a massive game as part of a Super Sunday that also sees Liverpool take on Manchester City.

The Villans will be facing Ange Postecoglou’s team, and they know that a victory would be crucial to their chances of finishing in the top four.

For Tottenham, the key will be on the performance of their core players, which includes summer additions Micky van de Ven and James Maddison. Since their arrival in high-profile transactions last year, the pair have proven indispensable, with Van de Ven standing out in particular.

Midfielder Maddison has praised the Dutch teammate’s speed and physicality in an interview with Sky Sports.

James Maddison praises Micky van de Ven

Speaking to Sky Sports, Maddison was full of praise for Van de Ven, admitting he can see exactly why Ange Postecoglou signed him.

“It’s no surprise to me that the gaffer really wanted him in the summer. Just because of now we know how Ange wants to play and we are learning his system more and more. I can see why he wanted Micky, just because we do play an aggressive line. His pace is frightening really, like you see some of the recovery runs against Palace, it’s just out of this world at times. The sheer pace and physicality he has, and to go with that a ball playing centre-half, they’re hard to find and normally expensive. He’s just another level in terms of pace and power” Maddison said

  A superb Spurs signing

In the main, Tottenham made the right choice in the summer, and Micky van de Ven has been one of their better acquisitions in a long time.

When the big Dutchman had a hamstring injury early in the season, it was a tremendous blow, but he has now returned to form and been outstanding.

Van van Ven could prove to be a fantastic acquisition for Spurs at roughly the £34 million figure in the long run, as Maddison states here. He is ideal for the style of play Ange wants to employ.