Conte says ‘superior’ Spurs star must ‘believe in himself’

Antonio Conte says Steven Bergwijn has to believe in himself more as he battles for his Tottenham career.

Bergwijn has been a bit-part player under Conte and has been restricted to brief cameos off the bench as the boss has settled on a front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.

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But Bergwijn, who Ajax tried to sign in January, put his name in lights during the recent international break, scoring three goals in two games for the Netherlands before saying that he will “see what happens in the summer” regarding his Spurs future.

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Conte says the 24-year-old has unique characteristics and can be useful to Spurs.

“We’re talking about a player of great quality, great potential,” he said.

“He’s different to the other players in the squad, good one v one. When the space is tight, he’s good at beating the man and scoring. Steven has great space for improvement, he has to try to give continuity and to continue to work in the way that he’s doing.

“For us, he’s an important player, the type who if he starts or comes in, he can change the situation, because of a specific characteristic of superiority. Create chances for himself or the other. He has to continue to believe in himself more.

“He’s a young player with great space for improvement. He has to continue to work, to improve with and without the ball. To help the team at every moment because football is a team game and you have to be ready at every moment to help the team with or without the ball.”

Bergwijn is likely to be on the bench again when Newcastle visit on Sunday.

The Magpies are a far cry from the side that