Stifling Ings key to Tottenham’s FA Cup progress
TOTTENHAM defender Eric Dier insists shackling the attacking potency of Burnley’s England Under-21 striker Danny Ings is pivotal to his side navigating tonight’s FA Cup third round replay at White Hart Lane.
Burnley salvaged a replay last week after Wales hitman Sam Vokes shrugged off a nine-month injury nightmare to cancel out Nacer Chadli’s opener. A home tie with Leicester City awaits the victors.
Ings has spearheaded the Clarets’ bid to avoid an immediate return to English football’s second tier by netting six Premier League goals this term, and Dier believes ignoring the quality of his international colleague could be perilous.
“Danny Ings is a massive threat and he’s probably their most dangerous player,” said Dier. “I’ve played with him at England Under-21 level and I’ve seen at close quarters that he’s a really good player.
“He’s shown that he’s very sharp, so we’ll have to keep an eye on him.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche, meanwhile, has reiterated his stance that Ings, who is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with an £8m move to Tottenham, will not be leaving east Lancashire during the January transfer window.
He said: “It is an ongoing situation with Danny but he will be a Burnley player. I’m sure of that because he’s come out and said it.”