Dane Scarlett may have been the hero for Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League against IF Elfsborg, but the decision to bring him off the bench was a rather strange one.
Unsurprising decision by Spurs to recall Dane Scarlett
While Scarlett showed some promise during his loan spell at Oxford United in the first half of the season, the striker never really got a consistent run in the side.
The 20-year-old finished with four goals in 20 Championship appearances for the club, starting just over a quarter of their league games this season.
That is why it surprised no one when Tottenham announced last Monday that Scarlett’s spell at the Kassam Stadium had been cut short.
Dane Scarlett has to stay at Tottenham now
Ange Postecoglou raised a few eyebrows when he brought Dane Scarlett off the bench with Spurs searching for a goal against IF Elfsborg on Thursday. That is no insult to Scarlett himself – more the logistics of the substitution.
After spending a period on loan with Oxford United and now playing a competitive match for Tottenham Hotspur, Scarlett becomes ineligible to go out on loan for the second half of the season. The rules state that you cannot play for three teams in one season.
That means Dane Scarlett will now spend the rest of the campaign on the Spurs bench, at best. It also heavily implies that Will Lankshear will be given a loan move of his own instead.
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Scarlett will serve as Tottenham’s third-choice striker (at best) for the next six months behind Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, and probably Heung-min Son plus any potential new signing.
Do not fear though, Tottenham fans, even Daniel Levy wouldn’t give up on signing someone like Mathys Tel because Dane Scarlett scored one goal in the Europa League… right?
Last chance saloon for Dane Scarlett?
Scarlett will be 21 years of age in just two months – an age when he can no longer be considered just a young prospect.
The youngster failed to set the world alight at Portsmouth in League One two years ago, barely played on loan at Ipswich Town, and most recently had that Oxford United recall.
If the England Under-21 international fails to have a decent impact over the next six months, Tottenham may cash in on him in the summer, particularly given the progress that Will Lankshear has made over the last year.