Stuart Pearce visibly shocked by performance from big-money Tottenham player

Stuart Pearce questioned Jan Paul van Hecke's price tag in a damning assessment during Tottenham's defeat to Aston Villa.

The £52million summer signing got on the scoresheet but endured a tough afternoon otherwise, as Spurs' woes continued with a 3-2 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Goals from Johan Manzambi, Jackson and Emi Buendia put Villa 3-0 up and in cruise control, before Conor Gallagher and a last-gasp header from Van Hecke gave the hosts some credibility.

This sealed Villa's first win of the season, while Roberto De Zerbi's side remain winless after their first five Premier League games.

Despite a lively start which saw Spurs force saves from Zion Suzuki, Manzambi gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half time as four goals followed in the second half.

'What is Van Hecke doing?'

Villa became increasingly dominant in the second period, as club-record signing Jackson began to run riot against the Spurs' backline, and Van Hecke in particular.

In the 55th minute, the Senegalese picked the ball up out wide by the halfway line and breezed past the Dutchman, before driving towards goal and seeing his 20-yard effort fly just over the bar.

This left talkSPORT commentator Sam Matterface unimpressed, who reacted: “What is Van Hecke doing? He sold himself completely.”

Co-commentator Pearce was in agreement, immediately questioning Van Hecke's big-money summer move from Brighton.

He replied: “He certainly did. Was that £52million worth of central defending?"

With Pearce clearly shocked by Van Hecke's struggles against Jackson, Matterface replied: "Honestly, I wish everybody could see the look on your face."

The England great came back: “Honestly, when he moved for the summer money that he did it raised an eyebrow or two in my head.

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"And his performance today has done exactly that again.”

Pearce's damning verdict was proven right minutes later, as Jackson once again got the better of Van Hecke to score Villa's second.

The striker outmuscled the defender to lay Suzuki's long ball off to Manzambi, before getting the ball back and flicking it past Micky van de Ven and volleying a stunning effort past Antonin Kinsky in goal.

This put Villa in firm control as Spurs despaired, and Van Hecke soon found himself on the end of criticism from talkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara.

Taking to X, the ex-Tottenham man and Sports Bar host tweeted: “Van Hecke looks like he’s playing in cement.”

Things then went from bad to worse Spurs as Buendia fired in a 25-yard stunner to make it 3-0, only for the home side to finally score their first league goal of the season when Gallagher prodded home in the 86th minute.

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Despite a challenging afternoon, Van Hecke managed to leave with some credibility when he headed home Andy Roberton's free-kick to open his Spurs account.

But the scoreline flattered Spurs, and questions will continue to be asked over manager De Zerbi, whose side continue to struggle despite a summer overhaul over more than £300m which includes Van Hecke.