Tottenham Hotspur Retaining Aaron Lennon Will Be Key to Their Season

Success for Tottenham this season is difficult to define.

Does Mauricio Pochettino need to bring his new side back into the Premier League's top four? Would Champions League qualification via a Europa League triumph be just as good? Or, given the rising competitiveness between England's top-seven clubs, would simply returning to the Europa League be considered satisfactory?

Regardless of how far he intends to take his team, Pochettino will not be able to rely only on his first-choice lineup. He must make effective use of his squad in order to achieve the maximum results.

Aaron Lennon is to be a key member of that squad. Tottenham's longest-serving current player, after the sale of Michael Dawson, Lennon has more than a decade of Premier League experience. Excluding Emmanuel Adebayor, Lennon has made more appearances in the top flight than the entire starting XI selected against Liverpool and QPR.

While he is no longer first choice, Lennon's experience is invaluable to a young Spurs squad, many of whom are in their first or second seasons in England. He knows the physicality of the defenders, the noise of the fans and the speed of the game.

When Lennon signed for Spurs in 2005, it seemed a real coup and his progress was rapid. Selected to the England squad for the Germany World Cup a year later, Spurs' winger was blossoming. Unfortunately, Lennon never seemed to develop far beyond that point. He has never been a regular goalscorer and comparisons with Theo Walcott which once seemed favourable are now laughable.

We are now five years removed from his finest season. In 2009, Lennon was ferocious and in career-best form. His finest moments came within an eight-week stretch. First, for England, he helped to crush Croatia 5-1 before being the most important player in Tottenham's 9-1 win over Wigan. Jermain Defoe scored five goals but Lennon devastated Wigan's defence with a fantastic performance.

Shortly after those twin triumphs, injury struck and he has never looked the same player. However, he remains a Premier League-quality footballer and retains the special kind of pace that will always make him a threat. The fact that Spurs have retained him means that Pochettino can deploy a more traditional formation than his preferred 4-2-3-1. It also gives him a strike weapon that can be deployed from the bench. Lennon's speed against tired defenders is a simple footballing recipe.

A more limited role may also help him rediscover his form. So reliant on his pace and his ability to take the ball past a defender, playing less often may enable him to harness his energy more effectively.

Beyond the Premier League, Lennon is a vital factor. He has made over 50 appearances for Spurs in Europe and is unlikely to be shaken by the exotic locations and intimidating fans. He has been appointed as captain on occasion and it would not be surprising if he leads Spurs out during their European campaign.

Still only 27, Lennon is not yet beyond his physical peak. He has much more to give and, while he would likely play more often at another club, he has an important role to play in Tottenham's squad this season.

Along with the more quantifiable results, Pochettino has also been charged with returning to Tottenham's historically attractive playing style. Under both Tim Sherwood and Andre Villas-Boas, that disappeared. Would an attractive Spurs side that finished outside of the European places and failed to earn silverware be enough for Pochettino to keep his job?

The Argentine boss is a proponent of an incredibly demanding style of football. The physical toll of this approach means that he must be able to call upon a deep well of reserve players. As Southampton manager, Pochettino was somewhat limited by the size of his squad. He was able to dip into the academy when needed but at White Hart Lane, his reserves are in many cases internationals. Aaron Lennon, with his 21 England caps, is a player of enviable quality for a substitute.

On deadline day, the Mirror's David Anderson claimed Lennon was linked with a move to Stoke City, and John Edwards of the Daily Mail suggested a reunion with former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp at QPR was in the offing. Neither materialised but Lennon's position in the squad had been made clear. According to Neil Moxley of the Mirror, he remains for sale in the January window.

Lennon will probably get little credit this season. Entering his 10th season at White Hart Lane, his pace and touch no longer excite in the way they once did. Despite that, he remains an excellent substitute.

He will play a major role in Spurs' success this season.