Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has again talked up the quality of Tottenham youngster Eric Dier.

Keown wrote in the Daily Mail: "I first saw Dier playing for the England Under 20s and he still looked raw. He was a powerful, quick right back who charged up and down, but he needed more control. I felt his body type made him ideally suited to centre half and he has made that position his own at Tottenham.

"His rise has been quite spectacular. He has gone from a promising squad player to a first-team regular alongside Jan Vertonghen. He moves the ball well, is technically very good and he is a fighter - he stood up well to Diego Costa in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.

"The next step for him is to become a vocal leader. The best central defenders demand so much from those around them and if that mentality is drilled into him, Dier could improve Tottenham's rather soft underbelly."