This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Tottenham Hotspur’s permanent captain is Hugo Lloris.
That may well have slipped the mind of many a fan as they continue to watch this Spurs team grow and improve under Jose Mourinho’s management but it remains true; Lloris is the club skipper.
But for how much longer?
One is allowed to ask the question now, with Spurs picking up three wins on the bounce without the Frenchman, who is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, in goal.
He injured his elbow in the 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in October and has since been replaced by Paulo Gazzaniga.
His deputy is not currently keeping clean sheets – Spurs have conceded two goals in every single Mourinho game thus far – but the team are winning without the influence of their skipper.
And that poses the question of whether Lloris should regain the armband when he is back to full fitness.
Harry Kane has worn it in his stead and is leading by example.
In his games as captain, he has scored against Liverpool and West Ham United in the Premier League, while also scoring twice against Red Star Belgrade and twice against Olympiacos in the Champions League.
Lloris, as captain, saw Spurs win just three times domestically – against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Southampton, keeping just one clean sheet – while he did not skipper Spurs to a victory in Europe, conceding nine goals in two games against Olympiacos and Bayern Munich.
Kane, with the armband, has captained Spurs to just one defeat, against Liverpool at Anfield.
Spurs are currently fifth in the league and are looking to keep the pressure on fourth-placed Chelsea.
If they are breathing down their necks come the turn of the year, it makes very little sense to give Lloris the armband back.
Kane, then, ought to be the captain from here on in as Spurs look to claw their way back into Champions League qualification contention.
Meanwhile, one Spurs ace could be set for an international recall after his manager’s quotes.
