Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Crystal Palace saw a £15 million bid rejected by Liverpool for Ben Doak this month.
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Former Tottenham Hotspur full-back Alan Hutton has backed Archie Gray to succeed in North London following his £40 million move from Leeds United last summer, despite a difficult first season in the Premier League.
The 18-year-old is a versatile player but has spent a large part of the season at centre-back under Ange Postecoglou due to injuries to Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero. The teenager has looked diligent in that role but has been shown up with Spurs' defensive record leaky.
Hutton, who won the League Cup with Spurs in 2008, spoke to LondonWorld via Casino Scout and urged patience with Gray. When asked what his best position may be, Hutton said: "That's a great question because when I watched him at Leeds, he played in a number of positions, even played further forward. So, I think it's about them dialling into what they see his strongest position. As a full-back, more in midfield?
"I like him at full-back because I think he's got a great engine, he can get up and down, he's got good delivery, he's got good awareness about him as well because he has played in midfield. I think all these little things help you develop into a top-class player.
Spurs told to have patience with Archie Gray
"He was bought for the future; they paid decent money for him and I think it was worth it in my opinion. I think it's just going to take a little bit of time and just the situation they're in at the moment doesn't help.
"The spotlight's on them and you're expecting him to go up against seasoned professionals, strikers, and he's playing out of position so it's not really easy for them, but I think he will be one that they'll be glad they've got a hold of for the future."
Hutton was also on hand to give his opinion on Liverpool youngster Ben Doak, as he cast an eye over the Premier League's rising stars. The 19-year-old is on loan at Middlesbrough this season and has turned heads in the Championship - so much so that Crystal Palace had been hotly linked with a move for the winger.
The Eagles saw a £15 million bid rejected by Liverpool earlier this month with Boro boss Michael Carrick desperate to keep the player at the Riverside Stadium. Doak has three goals and six assists this season.
Hutton tips Ben Doak for Premier League transfer
Crystal Palace have since recruited Romain Esse from Millwall but Hutton sent an enticing hint that a bid of the right price could still convince Liverpool to sanction a sale.
Speaking about Doak's future, Hutton said: "I think he's capable. You need to remember he's still 19; he's still developing. He's had a lot of pressure on his shoulders for a long period of time, but I think his personality can deal with it. He's broken into the Scotland national team as well; I think he's been a breath of fresh air.
"This is what he needed to do in my opinion. Go out on loan from Liverpool, get somewhere where he feels comfortable. He's playing week in, week out. He can grow physically and everything that goes along with the demands of playing regular first team football and come back a better player. It's going to be down to Slot and how he sees him. Because he's really quick. He's strong for being quite small. He can score a goal. He's got a good delivery into the box. He links up well with attacking players. I think he ticks a lot of boxes.
"Everything's going well for him at this moment in time. It just depends on if a good bid comes in and Liverpool think it's acceptable, because if they do then he will have to take it and go to another team in the Premier League.
"Then it's about him then managing that mentally and handling it. And as I said, I think he's got the attributes to do that. He's a confident young man that believes in his own ability. I'm sure if there was a chance to go and play in the Premier League, he would go and he'd grab it with both hands."