Tottenham: Guglielmo Vicario decision clear for Ange Postecoglou after Antonin Kinsky shows both sides | OneFootball

The 21-year-old has potentially played his last match of the season

Watching Antonin Kinsky's first two appearances for Tottenham, it was easy to wonder if the club had signed not just an understudy but a genuine competitor to Guglielmo Vicario, capable of pushing hard for the Italian's place.

His move to the Premier League was so sudden, he arrived in London without a pair of boots or gloves but the 21-year-old exuded confidence in a 1-0 win over the league leaders and made a pair of sharp saves.

Kinsky followed up his debut with another encouraging display in an altogether different assignment at Tamworth in the FA Cup, dealing well with the non-league side's aerial barrage from low throws and keeping another clean sheet.

Kinksy's reflexes, his confidence with his feet and, perhaps most importantly, his willingness to be proactive at coming for crosses seemingly made him a good fit for Ange Postecoglou's Spurs and potential competition for Vicario, who is fine shot-stopper but has occasionally struggled at commanding his box from corners.

Vicario, though, is now fit again and Postecoglou was unequovical that he will go straight back into the XI for Sunday's visit of Manchester United, despite being sidelined for more than two months with a fractured foot.

"Vic's still the number one," Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou said on Friday. "He got injured when we beat Man City [in November] and we were fifth in the table, so he wasn't dropped, he was injured. He's back now and certainly we're happy to have him back.”

"It is not just that Vic is an outstanding goalkeeper but in training he is such a presence among the boys," Postecoglou added.

"He gets everyone going and it has been tough without him because we’ve used three other goalkeepers. They’ve all contributed but none of them have let us down. It’s just that Vic is experienced and has a strong personality. He has enormous self-belief and that filters through the team."

Imminent return: Guglielmo Vicario is expected to return this weekend

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Spurs have desperately needed more leaders during a rough January, which nosedived after their win over Tamworth, with Kinsky understandably coming to look less assured and more inexperienced after his adrenaline-fuelled first week in England.

He might have done better for both of Arsenal's goals in a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium and was shaky as Spurs were drubbed 4-0 at Anfield in the Carabao Cup semi-final decider.

Most notably, Kinsky was at fault for Aston Villa's 57-second opener in last Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie, making a hash of Jacob Ramsey's fierce strike, which may now prove his final appearance of the season, with the Czech not registered in the Europa League.

For Postecoglou, however, the way Kinsky reacted to his blunder at Villa Park with a string of saves to keep the scoreline respectable is testatement to his character.

"I've been really happy with with Toni. Even at Villa, obviously you know he made the mistake, but his reaction to that was I thought outstanding for a 21-year-old in that environment to bounce back from a mistake like that," Postecoglou said.

"We've thrown him in and given him some enormous tasks with very little sort of preparation and I just think he's going to be an outstanding goalkeeper.

"Brandon [Austin] as well has really grown through this period, so I know Burchy's [goalkeeping coach Rob Burch] really happy now with the goalkeeping group in that we've got a really strong goalkeeping group now that can push each other.

"Really, really pleased to get Toni into the club, because we think he's going to be an outstanding goalkeeper and no better one to work alongside than than Vic."

Kinsky appears a smart signing at £12.5million but there is a case that his display at Villa, which was both raw and hugely encouraging, sums up where he currently is in his career and illustrates why Postecoglou is so enthusiastic about Vicario's return.

After eight starts in the league and domestic cups, Kinsky has had a taste of the Premier League and some enormous games but he will now have to wait for another chance and in the meantime aim to keep Vicario on his toes.