Tottenham: Antonio Conte tipped to make big call on £22.5m star vs Brighton

Emerson Royal will keep his place in the starting XI for Tottenham‘s lunchtime clash with Brighton, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The £22.5m-rated right wing-back has started the last two Premier League games due to being one of only two fit wing-backs available to Antonio Conte.

Prior to Royal’s return to the side this month, his Tottenham career looking to be slipping away from him.

Not only had he lost his place in the side to Matt Doherty, but Atletico Madrid were are targeting a summer move for his services, less than 12 months after he signed from Barcelona.

But injuries to Ryan Sessegnon and Serio Reguilon saw Doherty switch flanks and allowed Royal to come back into the side for the recent victory over Newcastle.

Royal marked the occasion by stabbing home his first goal for Tottenham, and while the left-sided pair returned to the matchday squad for the win at Aston Villa last weekend, Conte handed the Brazilian a second start on the bounce.

And with Doherty out for the rest of the season having sustained a knee problem at Villa Park, Bridge fully expects Royal to keep his place for the visit of Brighton.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think Emerson played well against Villa on Saturday and has done more than enough to get a start.

“Don’t forget, he started against Newcastle as well and scored, so he’s having a good few weeks. Therefore, I’d be stunned if he doesn’t start against Brighton.”

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Besides Doherty, the only other player to have started a game at right wing-back this season is Japhet Tanganga, and injury will also keep him out for the remainder of the campaign.

There have been whispers that one of Lucas Moura or Steven