Harry Redknapp sent Ange Postecoglou a firm message about Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Mikey Moore.
The 16-year-old has been turning heads in the pre-season, netting goals against Hearts and scoring the winner in a 3-2 victory over Vissel Kobe. Fresh from his GCSEs, Moore has enjoyed a promising six months, which also saw him star for England at the UEFA Under-17 European Championships.
While the step up to Premier League action is significant, Postecoglou acknowledged the teen's potential during Spurs' tour of South Korea. Comparisons have been drawn between Moore and former Spurs talent Adel Taarabt, who was considered to be one of the most technically gifted players to emerge from the Lilywhites' academy.
Despite some fans' nerves about exposing Moore to the ruthless challenges of Premier League football, Redknapp is optimistic. If Moore keeps making waves in North London, Redknapp thinks Postecoglou must back him.
In an interview with Football.London, Redknapp, who was in Portsmouth to visit Kellogg's Football Camps – a UK-wide summer football programme for local kids – said: "If he's good enough, stick him in.
"The kid who played for Spain in the European Championship final (Lamine Yamal) was only 16. We've had Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole, they all came in the team around that age. If he's as good as everyone thinks he is, hopefully we will see him in the first team this year."
Moore has already had a taste of first-team action. Last year, he made history by becoming the youngest player to represent Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League when he took to the pitch against Manchester City.
Postecoglou has been vocal about his admiration for the young talent this summer. He also admitted that his challenge now is to create an environment that allows Moore to flourish.
In a recent press conference, he said: "In coaching terms and working with young players, the most important thing is the environment you set up for them and what they came into.
"That means the moment they come into the dressing room, the kind of dressing room you have with the senior players and the way we train and the way we talk.
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"We try to teach them as much about life as we do about football because obviously for a lot of them and you mention Mikey Moore, he's only 16. He's got so much growth as a footballer but also as a person.
"We try to provide the environment which allows him to be the best that he can be and then it's up to the player. Once you provide that environment it's up to the player to keep driving on and not be satisfied."
Redknapp was at a Kellogg’s Football Camps session in Portsmouth. The fun-filled camps are operating nationwide this summer for kids aged 5-15, with 73 locations around the UK as Kellogg’s keeps kids active and entertained during the school holidays thanks to partnerships with the EFL, Manchester City, Celtic, and Rangers. Parents can still sign kids up for their local camp by heading to the Kellogg’s Football Camps website. 30,000 free spaces are being offered throughout the summer, which can be redeemed using code 4567 until 12 August at kelloggsfc.com.