Peirre Emile Hojbjerg is wasting no time in talking to the press in his new found status as Spurs number 1 target of the summer, but will it be just 90 minutes for the Danish International at St Mary's or a bit less than that.
Speaking in the media Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has insisted that coming up against Southampton with Tottenham Hotspur early in the new season will be just like any other game.
He will return to St Mary's in only the 2nd fixture of the upcoming Premier League season, but there will be no vitriolic abuse hurled from the stands at him from those Saints supporters who love to hate those who have left, nor will there be the usual abuse from the visitors section crowing about how they have stolen him from us, there will just be the Echo of the players voices around an empty stadium, perhaps a fitting return for a player who although a good servant over 4 years, rarely got the fans out of their seats and acclaiming him.
The midfielder has played down the significance and told Tottenham’ Hotspurs official website:
"It’s 90 minutes of football, like any other game.
"As a whole club, we’re looking forward to the Premier League starting again and showing what we’re all about, showing what we want to achieve, and wasting no time.”
But will it be 90 minutes for Hojbjerg? will he get a place in the starting line up, if he does will he actually see out the entire game ?
A year ago he couldn't make the starting line up for Saints game at Burnley on the opening day, coming on for the last 17 minutes as sub, after the restart Ralph Hasenhuttl used him sparingly and although this was partly due to the players desire to leave and the manager's thinking that totally committed players are better than those who are not, the fact was we looked a better balanced side without him.
The Danish international also took time to praise the environment at the club, although what else is he going to say given he is speaking to Spurs own media.
I did have to laugh at the sentiments he expressed about Spurs as a club though.
"There’s an environment where everyone wants to be better, everyone wants to have no excuses, as a human being, as a sportsman, as a footballer, it’s a great place to be.”
I had to have a big laugh at this statement, did Hojbjerg actually say this or is this Spurs writing the script for him, Jose Mourinho is as arrogant as it comes, he has no interest in making his players better human being's and to be honest nor do Daniel Levy or the Spurs hierarchy, they are interested in only one thing, results on the pitch, not personal development.
Saints fans will watch Hojbjerg's time at Spurs with interest, there are some who rate him and others that don't, certainly most never saw him as being a top target for Spurs or any other club with Champions League aspirations, will he be the type of player who will thrive with better players around him, or will be be one that is overshadowed.
We wait and see and although we hope his return to St Mary's is an unhappy one, personally I bear him no animosity and wish him well and as a human being I am sure that the player himself will appreciate Saints fans wishing us well.