One to Watch – Aaron Lennon

Name: Aaron Lennon

Date of Birth: 16/4/1987

Nationality: England

Former Clubs: Leeds United

League Appearances (Goals): 255 (25)

International Appearances (Goals): 20 (0)

Stat of the Day: Whenever Aaron Lennon has scored for Spurs they have never lost, winning all but three of those 27 games

Player Profile: I`ve never really rated Aaron Lennon, always deeming him an average winger, with only his pace to make up for his lack of footballing intelligence and end product. Even Spurs fans have been known to grow increasingly tiresome with his frustrating performances. This season, however, Lennon appears to have matured and added a consistency to his game that White Hart Lane has been crying out for. Everyone has been focusing on the class and diving exploits of Gareth Bale, yet it is Aaron Lennon on the opposite wing who has been quietly providing Spurs with another exciting attacking option.

Under AVB, Lennon has already equalled his league total for last season`s goals and assists, and Spurs fans` have been increasingly impressed with the midfielder`s added work rate. His predictable nature of trying to beat defenders on the outside seems to have partly disappeared as he often finds himself popping up in more attacking positions across the field. It would be unwise to play anyone but Armand Traore against Lennon on Saturday, given his threatening pace and impressive recent form.

Player History:

Aaron Lennon`s career started out at Leeds United where he joined their academy in 2001, before making his first professional start a mere two years later; coming off the bench at White Hart Lane for Leeds to become the youngest player to appear in the Premier League at 16 years and 129 days. He soon worked his way into the first team and was the standout performer in Leeds` first season in the Championship under Kevin Blackwell.

Due to Leeds` financial difficulties, Lennon made a £1 million move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005, with his Spurs debut coming a couple of months later in a defeat against Chelsea. His first Premier League goal came in a 2-0 victory over Birmingham at St Andrews in 2006. Lennon went on to bolster his Premier League experience in 2006/2007 with 24 appearances in all competitions, netting five goals including a famous winner against Chelsea.

Lennon has won both the Tottenham Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards, and despite groin injuries hampering his progression he has already made over 200 league appearances for Spurs, still at the age of 25.

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