Terry tips Fazio to shine

Recent signing Federico Fazio has been given a glowing reference from a former Spur who has the inside track on Spanish football.

Terry Gibson, a forward who came up through the ranks at White Hart Lane in the late 1970s before leaving for Coventry City in 1983, is these days a familiar face on Sky Sports’ coverage of La Liga.

Consequently, he’s followed the fortunes of our new centre-half with former club Sevilla at close quarters over the last few years.

And he admitted he’s excited by the prospect of what the 27-year-old Argentine can offer.

“I’m really pleased he’s signed for the Club,” beamed the always talkative Terry, who scored seven goals in 26 first team appearances for us and later won the FA Cup with Wimbledon in 1988.

“He’s a really good centre-half. He actually started his career as a midfield player – he was mobile enough to play as a holding midfielder but he sort of matured and became an obvious candidate to play centre-back because of his size.

“He’s been really important at Sevilla having joined when he was young. He made the centre-half position his own and he’s been a regular there for about six years now, prior to joining Spurs obviously.

“He’s a good player and a terrific signing. He’ll be ideal for English football.”

On his own role behind the microphone, Terry says he enjoys the chance to keep tabs on some of the top talent in La Liga – and is always delighted to see players making their way to England.

“I’ve been doing the Spanish coverage for seven years now, co-commentating, working as a studio guest and appearing on Revista de la Liga. I love it and I’m really lucky to be able to do what I do,” said the 51-year-old.

“We’re getting so many of the top players coming to the Premier League now – Spurs have got some and so have Manchester United, another one of my old clubs – so La Liga is a competition that provides some really good players.”