Harry Winks cast as Sampdoria's unlikely saviour in relegation fight

MATT BARLOW: Harry Winks has been cast as Sampdoria’s unlikely saviour in their relegation fight… the on-loan Tottenham star is known as ‘the washing machine’ after his tidy displays – all while Spurs patch up their depleted midfield

• Harry Winks helped Sampdoria secure an unlikely draw against Inter Milan
• The on-loan Tottenham midfielder is rebuilding after a long-term ankle injury
• Winks could glue Sampdoria’s side together as the club aims to avoid relegation

As Tottenham descended upon the San Siro and Antonio Conte bemoaned the midfield injury crisis spoiling his return to work, one of their own was orchestrating an unlikely result against Inter Milan less than a hundred miles south.

Harry Winks was cool and composed, perfectly at home in the heart of this Sampdoria team fighting hard for survival as they combined to frustrate Inter in a goalless draw on Monday in Genoa, and leave Conte’s former club trailing Serie A leaders Napoli by 15 points.

Winks played the entire 90 minutes, his fifth appearance since returning from surgery last autumn to repair a nagging ankle problem. Deployed deep, central, on the toes of his central halves, he passed and prompted in the first half, digging in deeper to toil for the clean sheet in the second.

He was hugely influential, and is already been cast into the role of unlikely saviour, the intelligent pass master who might yet glue Dejan Stankovic’s loose collective of talented players together as a team in the most trying of circumstances.

There is a strong British thread running the history of Sampdoria, including great players such as Trevor Francis, Graeme Souness and David Platt.

Harry Winks has become the latest in the line of British players to play for Sampdoria

David Platt’s two years as a Sampdoria player were marked before kick-off against Inter Milan 

Platt was out on the pitch before kick-off, saluted by the ultras of the Gradinata Sud inside the Luigi Ferraris Stadium after an impressive big-screen show-reel of the goals he scored during two years at the club, where he won the Coppa Italian under Sven Goran Eriksson, on his travels between Juventus and Arsenal in the mid 90s.

Liam Brady, celebrating his 67th birthday on Monday, is another fondly remembered in these parts with a North London connection.

Winks, the latest in the line, returned to fitness in January, by which time Samp were entrenched in the relegation zone and deep in financial trouble. Marco Giampaolo, the manager in charge when he was signed on loan for the season, was sacked in October but Stankovic, former Inter midfielder and Serbia international, is no less invested in the 27-year-old from Tottenham.

Early performances have been encouraging and Winks affectionately dubbed the ‘washing machine’ by the local Italian media.

Neat and tidy, cleaning up in midfield and recycling possession, evoking memories of those early performances for England and a memorable night for Tottenham in the Champions League against Real Madrid, now more than five years ago, which drew comparisons to the maestros of Barcelona, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Last night, against Inter, Winks took up his role in front of the central defenders, spraying the ball long occasionally but mostly popping crisp little angled passes, always on the move, available for the return.

In the Premier League, current tactical fashions dictate bigger, physical, combative midfielders fill this position. In Serie A, there is still a creative element to the role as a server, perfected in his time by Andrea Pirlo.

The tempo is less intense, not as relentless as it can be in England’s top flight. Italian football should suit Winks as he gets back up to speed. He can read the rhythms of a game. His touch is sure. He can plug the gaps and shield. He sees spaces and picks the right pass more often than not.

Winks is trying to rebuild after a long-term ankle injury at the relegation threatened side

The midfielder had played a vital role in previous Champions League campaigns for Tottenham

The area he was expected to patrol alone was sometimes too vast in the first half. It was impossible to stay watertight in the face of Inter’s lavish array of attacking options. Romalu Lukaku’s recall to start alongside Lautaro Martinez for the first time in a Serie A game since the World Cup seemed like a show of strength.

Sampdoria are spirted and improving, however, and Winks worked hard tracking back, and was in the right place to make some important clearances.

Stepping into one interception, he sprang his team on one encouraging break, perhaps their most positive situation of the first half.

Inter were out of shape at the back but Sampdoria lack confidence in front of goal and went out of their way to give the ball back to Winks, who not best placed to score from his position on the angle and his effort was closed down.

Still, his teammates clearly trust him. They want him on the ball. He is responsible for the set-pieces and his delivery was excellent. He has been established as what the European coaches like Conte often call a reference point, a reliable presence in the team for others to revolve around.

Confidence and concentration looks strong as he directs and cajoles. He tired and faded as an attacking influence. Most of his energies second half were devoted to defensive duties, chasing midfield runners into the channels, and he is still building stamina after a long time out.

Winks early performances for Sampdoria have been encouraging after his return from injury

Inter poured forward through five minutes of added time. Hakan Calhanoglu, Francesco Acerbi and Edin Dzeko all went close but Sampdoria clung on, deeply satisfied with what they hope might one day prove a precious point to the survival total.

Boss Stakovic and his staff all stopped to embrace Winks as they strode on at the final whistle. ‘The boy has suffered a lot but his desire to show his worth has never been lacking,’ said the Serb, when the 27-year-old returned last month, and fans stood to applaud the players at the end.

Winks was among the last to leave the pitch, soaking up the sights and sounds once again. Above everything else, it must just be an incredible relief to be back out there. Learning to believe in his body and explore his talent in the birthplace of Christopher Columbus on the Ligurian coast, as Spurs patch up their depleted midfield for the last-16 tie against AC Milan in the Champions League.

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