Tottenham are yet to see the best of Xavi Simons this season, but his latest outing in a different role for the Netherlands hints at something Spurs may need to look at more closely.The international break will soon come to an end, after which focus will shift fully to club football in the next few months. Tottenham Hotspur are yet to hit full gear under Thomas Frank, and the Spurs boss will be hoping for much better when his players return from international duty. Tottenham players have been involved in several international fixtures already. Xavi Simons, who has struggled in a Spurs shirt, has equally been involved for the Netherlands, and he put in a top performance in his latest outing.Photo by Stefan Koops/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesXavi Simons stats and midfield role with the NetherlandsThe Dutchman saw his national side come up against Lithuania on Monday night, and he was one of the stars of the show in a game where he looked far more assured than he has in recent outings for Tottenham.He was used in the centre midfield position in a 4-2-3-1 formation, playing as one of the eights alongside Tijani Reijnders, and the role seemed to suit him as he found more freedom to link play and arrive in good areas.Simons put in a top performance, scoring a goal and earning an 8.0 rating from FotMob, having played 78 minutes of football. Not only did he score, but his overall play was good, and the numbers below capture the level of his display.Xavi Simons vs Lithuania statsMetricNumberPasses completed39/43 (91%)Big chances created1Touches60Touches in opposition box4Successful dribbles2/3 (67%)Passes into final third6Accurate crosses1/1 (100%)Accurate long balls1/1 (100%)Tottenham expectations for Xavi Simons ahead of returnPutting in such a top display before returning to Tottenham will do Simons’ confidence a lot of good as he prepares to rejoin a squad that needs greater consistency in the middle of the park.The Dutchman has struggled in a Tottenham shirt, with good games hard to pinpoint since he joined Spurs in the summer, and although he has had to adapt, the season is about to reach the halfway point, so the pressure to lift his performances will only increase.Simons is one of three players we believe need to step up when Tottenham make a trip to the Emirates after the break, as Spurs will require far more cutting-edge and control in midfield.READ MORE: Tottenham receive worrying injury update on Pape Sarr ahead of North London derbyThe post Xavi Simons scores goal for Netherlands in new position that may interest Tottenham appeared first on Spurs Web.