Xavi Simons' Tottenham role hint, teen involved, Kolo Muani wide - 5 things spotted in training

Xavi Simons got to work in his first training session under Thomas Frank and his Tottenham coaches and there was plenty to be spotted on the Hotspur Way pitches.

The 22-year-old Dutchman completed his £52million move from RB Leipzig towards the end of the transfer window only to then head off on international duty with new Spurs team-mate Micky van de Ven. It was a relatively quiet fortnight for him for the Netherlands as he played 79 minutes on the right in the disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Poland on Thursday night and then watched on unused from the bench as his country won 3-2 in Lithuania on Sunday.

On Xavi's return to England, it was time to quickly settle into life at his new club as he was soon out on the pitches at Hotspur Way with his Spurs team-mates and working with Frank and his coaching staff.

Here are five things we spotted in the foreground and background of the footage from Xavi's first training session in Enfield.

Greeting the youngsters

As is a custom at Tottenham, the academy players joining in first team sessions sit on the benches in a row in the corridor as everyone puts on their boots to head out to training.

The first team players often go along them, slapping hands and making them feel welcome ahead of the session. Even though it was his own first session, Xavi also made a point of going along the wide-eyed youngsters and saying hello before sitting amongst them.

Among the youngsters involved was 18-year-old attacking midfielder Dan Batty, who signed from Leeds in February this year, along with Yusuf Akhamrich as well as academy regulars in first team training such as Dante Cassanova.

Xavi walked out for the session with his fellow Dutchman Van de Ven with a big grin on his face and went through the early warm-up paired up with the rapid centre-back.

Confident voice

It might be his first session but Xavi is an old hand, having burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old at PSG after a high profile move from Barcelona as one of the game's wonderkids. That has caused him to grow up quickly and he was seen as one of the vocal players at Leipzig and that much was clear in his first Spurs session.

The 22-year-old was constantly calling for the ball, telling those on it to wait before picking the pass and dishing out instructions whenever he felt it was right to do so, including pointing where the player should send the ball after he had cushioned it back to them.

He set up Dane Scarlett for a couple of chances and could be heard telling the striker at one point to "finish, finish".

Free role

With coach Matt Wells leading this session, the experienced coach could be heard dishing out plenty of instructions and praise and in one moment he made it clear what will be expected of Xavi.

Young Spurs starlet Akhamrich got the ball down the left and was told by Wells to "find Xavi". When the ball arrived at the Dutchman's feet, the Tottenham coach shouted: "Go on Xavi, you create. Create, whatever you want." The newcomer spread the ball wide and the move ended with a goal for Dane Scarlett, which brought applause from Xavi and the others.

It was just a little snapshot of a moment but as the team's only fit and available number 10, it's clear that Frank and his coaches will want the new signing to bring the creativity and he will be given more licence to roam and carve out opportunities for others.

Xavi operated mainly through the centre in the footage shown, coming over to the left, but also did get down that flank a couple of times before putting the ball into the six-yard box.

Skills

For a player who came through Barcelona's La Masia academy and has that Dutch upbringing, Xavi's touch and technique is near flawless.

His ability to cushion fast passes with his instep or even his chest with one high cross, is clear and his quick flicks and spins to get away from his marker, which was often up to the busy Cassanova to have to deal with.

He span the Spurs academy product at one point before linking up with fellow new arrival Randal Kolo Muani, who has been in training for a few days as he was not called up to the France squad for their games this month.

Xavi also scored a beautifully executed volleyed lob over goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky which drew praise from Wells and applause from others.

Randal role

It may only have been during this particular session but Kolo Muani appeared to be playing off the left at points during it with Xavi feeding him the ball down that flank.

That's may be because of the absence of the various players who play down the left, with them not being back from international duty yet, but it is worth pointing out that Frank did mention about the Frenchman playing down the flanks before saying he also plays through the middle when first speaking about signing him.

"Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years, playing for big teams in the Champions League and also with good experience for the France national team," he said. "He's a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third being able to play out wide and through the middle."

It might just be that we get to see the pacey attacker, who seemed to be referred to as Kolo by Wells during the session, used on the flank as much as he is up front as a central striker, which he also appeared to be used as at points at Hotspur Way.

Both Kolo Muani and Xavi will be hoping to make their Tottenham debuts on Saturday evening in the derby at West Ham.