\n
\nJoao Palhinha\u2019s recent resurgence at Tottenham Hotspur has reopened the debate about whether he should start in midfield for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
\nPalhinha\u2019s late strike at Wolverhampton Wanderers recently earned Tottenham their first Premier League win since December.
\nHe followed up with a fine performance at Aston Villa on Sunday, providing the team with a platform to secure another hugely important victory.
\nWith that in mind, read on as we assess whether the 30-year-old should start at the base of Portugal\u2019s midfield in North America this summer.
\nDe Zerbi recognises the value of experience\u00a0
\nNew Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has gone for a pragmatic approach in the middle of the park and the move has paid dividends.
\nDe Zerbi picked Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall alongside Conor Gallagher in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, but his decision backfired.
\nSunderland\u2019s Granit Xhaka ran the show and his performance, coupled with an unfortunate injury for Archie Gray, probably persuaded De Derbi to head down a different path.
\nPalhinha played alongside Rodrigo Bentancurm at Villa Park, while Gallagher was deployed ahead of them. It was the first time they have started together this season.
\nThey outworked Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde and Youri Tielemans, which gave Spurs the platform they needed to secure a vital victory. It was a similar story back in January where Palhina\u2019s dominant performance wasn\u2019t enough to secure FA Cup progress against Villa.
\nTottenham now have a template they can use for the rest of the season and one which could ultimately preserve their Premier League status.
\nDe Zerbi\u2019s recognition of Palhinha\u2019s qualities may boost his chances of playing for Portugal this summer, although that is far from guaranteed.
\nPhoto: IMAGO
\nMartinez may need to rethink his stance on Palhinha
\nPortugal manager Roberto Martinez is renowned for preferring technical midfielders. It is an ethos he has stuck to since his first managerial role at Swansea City.
\nPallhinha does not fit that description. He is a ball-winner \u2013 a destroyer in the truest sense of the word. He thrives on being physical in the middle of the park.
\nMartinez prefers his number six to be more cultured, which hands Ruben Neves a significant advantage over his more limited compatriot.
\nHowever, a strong case can be made for suggesting that Palhinha should be tasked with anchoring Portugal\u2019s midfield this summer.
\nIf Martinez starts Cristiano Ronaldo, he will already have a player in his line-up who will not contribute to the team\u2019s defensive efforts.
\nWhile Neves is not quite as a static as Ronaldo, his presence in the middle of the park will further weaken the spine of Portugal\u2019s team.
\nMartinez may get away with that approach against so-called weaker sides, but he cannot afford to take any chances when Portugal play top-class opposition.
\nMartinez\u2019s stubborn nature could scupper Portugal\u2019s chances
\nAlthough Neves is a decent player, it is worth noting that he is plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) rather than one of the top leagues in Europe.
\nBy contrast, Palhinha is operating effectively in the English Premier League \u2013 the most competitive domestic competition on the planet.
\nMartinez\u2019s preference for technicians over workers has been prevalent throughout his managerial career and has repeatedly proven to be his Achilles heel.
\nThe Portugal manager may feel that selecting Palhinha goes against his principles, but pragmatism undoubtedly has its place in professional football.
\nDe Zerbi\u2019s ability to recognise this factor and adapt accordingly could save Tottenham from dropping into the Championship at the end of the season.
\nIf Martinez chooses to be stubborn, Portugal\u2019s long wait to win the World Cup could go on for at least another four years.<\/p>\n