The Premier League is always filled with fun and surprises and no matter how many huge names and expensive transfers take place, there are always at least three new, young stars that are born as injuries take place and they are called upon.
Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer and Adam Wharton all got themselves their first England call-ups to the Euros just gone as they all had a breakthrough season last year.
Could Mikey Moore be that person this year and follow Harry Kane's footsteps to be one of Tottenham's own?
Tottenham Hotspur is notoriously known for developing young English talent over the past years. However, it seems to have died down recently, with Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich, Dele Alli not reaching his full potential, and players like Jack Clarke, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Harry Winks being sold off.
No Tottenham players were to be seen in the England squad for the Euros when back in the 2018 World Cup in Russia they had five.
The upcoming 24/25 season is different with many fans' mouths watering at the plethora of raw talent at Tottenham's disposal. Names like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, Will Lankshear, Jamie Donley, Tyrese Hall and Ashley Phillips are all 21 years-old or younger.
Who is Mikey Moore?
The 16-year-old, turning 17 in August, Mikey Moore has blown Tottenham fans away with his excellent performances in the academy and pre-season. It is seeming more likely that he will be given chances in the first team this year.
Mikey Moore is the stand out player from that list. The 2007-born made his UEFA Youth League debut against Marseille, re-writing history as he became the youngest-ever Spurs player to play in the competition at 15 years and 27 days.
As well as that, he made his first team debut last season against Manchester City in a 2-0 loss, becoming the youngest-ever Tottenham player to step on a pitch to play in the Premier League (16 years and 277 days). He then went on to get a cameo against Sheffield United the following game for a couple of minutes.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou spoke on what he thought of the debutant after the City game and said:
"He still has a long way to go, he’s only 16, but he’s a good kid and hopefully that encourages him.”
Mikey Moore's profile
The Englishman is 5"9 inches tall and plays predominantly at left-wing, although he has been seen on the right at times during pre-season.
Being right-footed, he likes to cut in to shoot but we know that Ange likes his wingers to stay wide in order to fizz a low cross into the box to cause issues for the opposition's defence and to make room for the under-lapping full-backs in the half-spaces.
Moore got himself 25 goal involvements in only 16 games in both U18's league and Youth Fa Cup last season, winning both competitions. He also managed three goal contributions in three starts during internationals with the U16 England squad, making enough of an impression to get in Postecoglou team sheet five times at the back end of last season.
The Englishman has already moved up through the ranks at international level, being called up to the U17s, after playing in the U15s and U16s as well.
It only took him less than a minute and a half to bag his first goal against France in a 4-0 group-stage win and helped put England 2-1 ahead against Spain in the Round of 16, where they went on to win 3-1.
Contract situation
From joining Tottenham's academy at Under 9s level in 2016, it has recently been reported from FootyInsider that Spurs are confident on getting the teenager to sign a new contract after apparently rejecting an eight-figure deal from London rivals Chelsea last summer.
It is clear that Tottenham are keen to get this deal done as soon as possible to fend off clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, who are all interested in the player.
His current contract runs until June 2026 and the last thing Tottenham want is another Noni Madueke or Marcus Edwards situation, where they let them go as they cannot offer the player enough game time to develop.
Pre-season so far
Moore has been included in Tottenham's list of names for their pre-season tour in Japan and Korea, where he will continue to shine and push Ange to trust him this season rather than loan him out.
They have played three friendlies so far against Cambridge (behind closed doors), Hearts and QPR. Moore played one half only in each game and scored in the first two, whilst getting an assist in the last.
Mikey Moore spoke after the game against Hearts and said:
“To score my first goal, even though it was in a pre-season game, was probably the best feeling I’ve had so far, and to score in front of the fans as well... it was unreal!”.
What does this mean for him?
Spurs business this summer is far from done as they look to bolster up their attack as Ange demanded. It is likely that they buy a minimum of one winger with the potential of a number 10 as well who is capable of playing out wide and also a new striker.