Can Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon Win Back His Starting Position?

Can Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon win back his starting position? Andros Townsend wants to keep his place in the England national team while one of Argentina's best talents in Erik Lamela is waiting in the wings.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has spoken glowingly of Lennon's imminent return.

"It's been a long time out for a player of Aaron's importance and the team is delighted with his return," said Villas-Boas, via Sky Sports. "He's proved year after year how important he is for us and to have him back is a major plus."

The reason why Villas-Boas is so upbeat is because he loves having options. 

Villas-Boas has an inside-out threat in Townsend and Lamela but retains a conventional winger in Lennon.

Last season, Lennon started 33 Premier League games, created seven goals and completed 18.4 percent of his crosses (average would be 20-22). 

The one question on Villas-Boas' mind is: Lennon or Townsend?

LEAGUE ONLY	Lennon 12-13	Townsend 13-14
Key Passes Per Game	2.0	1.5
Passing %	84.5	87.0
Dribbles Per Game	1.3	5.5

It has to be Townsend who's so desperate to prove his worth that he averages more dribbles per league game (5.5) than Lionel Messi (5.3). 

Townsend is an X-factor and can glide past opposing defenders with such ease that he opens up space for his teammates. 

As frustrating as Townsend can be, there is no way he can be dropped after his displays for England.

Instead of Townsend vs. Lennon, Villas-Boas should play both of them together. 

Townsend's worst attribute is his wasteful shooting, currently goalless in the Premier League from 26 shots, so start him on the left flank. 

Villas-Boas needs to instruct Townsend to beat the right-back and become a pass-first player. 

He's not one of those Hollywood-type passers who are wildly inaccurate, like Patrick Ebert of Real Valladolid, since Townsend completes 87 percent of his passes therefore he can change his playing style because he is a good passer.

Having Townsend's world-class dribbling on the left flank and Lennon's pace on the right will provide the ammunition Roberto Soldado needs. 

Last season for Valencia, he scored headers against Granada, Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Getafe, which proves he will be an aerial threat if accurate crosses are sent in. 

The elephant in the room is Lamela.

He isn't taking on players like the Roma Lamela. 

Lamela looks timid, is playing it safe and hasn't been dynamite when he's come on as an impact sub. 

In fairness, he doesn't speak English, isn't up-to-pace with Premier League football, is adjusting to life in London, had to deal with his brother being kidnapped (was released) and there's the psychological impact of being a squad player for Spurs having starred for Roma, now arguably one of Europe's best clubs.

Lennon could be tasked with keeping Lamela, who cost Spurs £30 million, out in the dark. 

Statistics via WhoScored, FFT Stats Zone, Squawka and Transfermarkt 
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