Tottenham's New Era: Van Hecke and Robertson Await Debut

Tottenham’s new era is still waiting for two of its headline acts.

Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson again watched from the sidelines as Spurs eased past Auckland FC 2-0 in the early hours of Sunday morning, their wait for a first appearance stretching into a second pre-season game.

Robertson, the former Liverpool left-back and Scotland captain, arrived on a free before the World Cup. Van Hecke followed from Brighton during the tournament, a deal that underlined Tottenham’s intent to reshape their defence as part of a lavish summer rebuild.

This has been an aggressive window. Spurs have pushed past the £200m mark in spending, reshaping the core of Roberto De Zerbi’s squad with signings such as Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to rewire the midfield and push the club into a new phase.

Yet in New Zealand, De Zerbi kept his powder dry.

The Italian refused to hand any of his senior players extended minutes against the A-League champions, mindful of the 30-hour haul halfway around the globe and the risk of soft-tissue injuries so early in the tour. Spurs still had more than enough to control Auckland, score twice, and move through the gears without ever looking stretched.

For Van Hecke and Robertson, though, it meant more waiting. Two friendlies, no minutes, only a touchline view of their new teammates and a growing impatience to pull on the shirt in anger.

Next Fixture

Their next opening comes quickly.

Tottenham face Sydney FC on Wednesday, with kick-off at 10.45am BST on July 29. By then, De Zerbi will want his squad closer to full sharpness, his new signings integrated, his rotation less cautious. That fixture, on paper at least, looks like the first realistic window for both Robertson and Van Hecke to step onto the pitch in Spurs colours.

If that moment still eludes them, attention turns to a more familiar opponent.

Chelsea await on Saturday, August 1, another 10.45am kick-off for UK viewers and a fixture that will carry a different edge, even in pre-season. A debut in a London clash would be a fitting stage for two players signed to help drag Tottenham forward.

One way or another, their wait cannot go on much longer.