Tottenham's one clear priority when it comes to Joao Palhinha

Midfielder has come under scrutiny but main focus for Spurs should not be what he can't do

There are a few textbook responses that players normally pull out when asked about criticism from pundits.

They might graciously declare that everyone is entitled to their opinion, or perhaps insist they do not listen to any commentary and instead only focus on the opinion of their manager and those close to him.

Joao Palhinha , though, is one for snapping into challenges. After some comments from Jamie Carragher last month, the Tottenham midfielder decided to take man and ball.

“Some people need to speak about another to be on the screens on the TV,” Palhinha said. “My life is not about that, definitely.

“It makes it a bit embarrassing seeing sometimes the ex-players speaking that way. They speak and they look sometimes like superstars on their past, I don't have problems to say.

Joao Palhinha has split opinion among fans and pundits

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“I think he should have seen probably more games of me at Tottenham. I think I am doing a top season.”

Analysing Spurs’ limp defeat to Chelsea at the start of November, Carragher had questioned whether Palhinha was good enough to be starting for Thomas Frank's side.

“Palhinha gets back on the ball and he takes five touches because he hasn’t got the confidence or the ability,” Carragher said.

The basis of Carragher's criticism was Palhinha's quality on the ball and his ability to play incisive passes through the lines.

However, Spurs did not sign the 30-year-old under the impression a Portuguese playmaker would turn up in north London. It is fairly obvious what Palhinha brings to the Spurs side.

He has made 61 tackles in the Premier League this season, at least ten more than any other player. Only Elliot Anderson and Neco Williams have won more duels.

Palhinha dominated the midfield in Spurs' win over Manchester City in August and for the first couple of months of the season looked like the club's best signing of the summer.

It seemed an inevitability that Spurs would take up their £27million option to sign him permanently from Bayern Munich, even if Frank has said a decision on that will not be made until the spring.

Joao Palhinha has made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season

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The court of public opinion has turned to a degree against Palhinha since then. He has become associated with the parts of Frank's approach that frustrates fans - safe passing, cautious decision-making and a lack of creative intent.

His partnership with Rodrigo Bentancur came under scrutiny for being too stodgy and that is fair. The pair should not be starting games at home together when Spurs will dominate the ball.

Palhinha is not a progressive passer and does have his limitation in his possession, but there are very few players in the world who have those qualities as well as his strengths off the ball.

Spurs' challenge is finding him the right partner. For the majority of games that should not be Rodrigo Bentancur. Archie Gray appears to fit the ball, having started the last two matches.

The teenager can play those passes through to Xavi Simons and drive forward with the ball, and Palhinha can be left to his strengths of winning duels and shielding the defence.

There will also be games when Spurs do not need a disruptor in midfield and can instead be more ambitious, with Palhinha perhaps coming on to see out a lead if required.

For £27m, Spurs will not find a midfielder that can do it all. Signing Palhinha is still the obvious thing to do and it would be the right decision.

The focus should be less on what Palhinha can't do, and more on finding the right profile of player to compliment him.