The 24-year-old centre-back has scored six times across his 16 total appearances this season and will likely be crucial in Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League game with Arsenal on Sunday (11.23.25), and Frank has now heaped praise on van de Ven for being a “cool and composed” defender.

Speaking with Owen Hargreaves, the Spurs manager said: “I think when you are a quick player, you can rely a little bit too much on your pace.

“He works a lot on his positioning in the box, which I think is crucial. As a defender, one thing is to be physical and quick and all that, but also the best defenders for me do what I call cool and composed defending.

“They are not hectic, they are just waiting, then boom, they block. That’s key. He is obviously fantastic on the ball, he can drive forward, he has a beautiful left foot and can play short or in behind.

“Also, this year he has added a set-piece threat, which I think again the complete defenders need to do that.”

Following a mixed start to the season, the London club are sat in fifth place in the Premier League, with Spurs most recently drawing 2-2 with Manchester United.

While some have questioned Frank’s style, the head coach has insisted trust needs to be placed in his system.

He said: “For me, it is a big thing; we need to work hard as a team. There is not one team in world history that has achieved something without working really hard.

“It is [a blueprint for success], of course, we need to build up in a nice way and we need to defend in a nice way. But just a pure work ethic in these days, it is like a non-negotiable.”

Frank also reflected on his journey from an under-eights team to a Premier League heavyhitter.

He said: “It started really small. Literally step by step. I think after four years at under-8s and under-12s, then I started thinking maybe under-17s.

“I had that for a few years, and then at a certain stage I was thinking I could maybe have a full-time job in this.”