Patrice Evra has offered a word of warning to returning World Cup stars ahead of the return of Premier League action.
The World Cup's winter setting, necessitated by Qatar's scorching climate, means players will return from international duty in the unique position of returning from the tournament right back into the thick of a Premier League season.
Just nine days after playing the entire 90 minutes of Croatia's third-place playoff tie against Morocco, Ivan Perisic returned to club action on Monday for Spurs' visit to Brentford.
The former Manchester United full-back explained on Amazon Prime Video before the game that lack of a break will impact players mentally as well as physically on their return to club football.
'If you have a good or bad tournament it is different. Physically and mentally it is important to recover, some for Tottenham had a good tournament others not so good.' Evra explained.
'It is never easy. They need time, people always think about the physical side, not the mental side. You always pay the price later, you need time to grieve. People think we are robots, but we are all human beings.'
Paul Robinson was England's starting goalkeeper for the 2006 World Cup as Sven-Goran Eriksson's side crashed out in the quarter-finals in Germany, and explained that the returning stars are in uncharted territory.
'We are in uncharted territory no one knows how it will play out. The physical side won’t be a factor. The intensity of the tournament, being in a concentrated area and the pressure of the games they don’t have a rest from.'
The former Spurs star also added that the top flight's return provides Harry Kane with an opportunity to get over his World Cup heartbreak.
'I liked to get back on the pitch and put it right. He has the opportunity to do it. People say he is fine. We don’t know. We can look back on his career so far. He has never had a setback of this magnitude in his career. It does affect you. I made mistakes for England and it affects you as a person in your day to day life.
Robinson also questioned why Hugo Lloris did not start for Antonio Conte's side, and why, if the goalkeeper was still recovering, was he named on the bench for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
'I expected Lloris to play, because it is eight days since the final. Yet Perisic played nine days ago. It is different emotionally, but I don’t understand. You look at the manager’s team selection the World Cup players are there.'
Evra previously represented France alongside the Spurs captain, and shared Robinson's confusion at Lloris being named on the bench.
'I would like to know who’s decision this is. No matter if he has been impact emotionally. He is also the captain. They must have talked. Why is he on the bench if you want him to recover, you could leave him at home. He is still with the team,'
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