More minutes in the tank. That's the most important part of pre-season, as Tottenham Hotspur beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Loftus Road.
Pre-season results rarely mean anything significant. It's an opportunity to build fitness, implement tactics and improve squad cohesion; results don't affect that, but there were plenty of positives for Spurs to take from their win against QPR.
Yves Bissouma gave the visitors the lead in the 40th minute with an outstanding solo run. He drove forward, combined with Dejan Kulusevski for a quick one-two on the edge of the box, before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping it in calmly.
It was part of a first half which saw Spurs firmly on top. They dominated the ball, dictated the tempo of the match and consistently created chances. As is almost always the case in pre-season, the Lilywhites opted to fully rotate their team for the second half.
Not a single player that started the match featured in the second 45, allowing the club's young stars to take centre stage. Mikey Moore did in particular, registering an assist as Dane Scarlett tapped it home with three minutes remaining to seal victory for the visitors.
Tottenham's midfield is brimming with young life
Tottenham's philosophy since Ange Postecoglou became manager has focused on bringing in youth. Nothing epitomises that more than the energetic duo of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
Gray, who joined from Leeds in June, won over plaudits during his debut season for the Whites last campaign. He was named EFL Young Player of the Season — and it's easy to see why. With an aggressiveness coupled with a composure that sets him apart from everyone, it's clear to see Gray's natural talent. Even as a centre-back against QPR, his maturity stood out like a sore thumb in the first half.
Alongside Gray is new signing Bergvall, who joined from Djurgården after turning down a move to Barcelona. You would be mistaken for thinking the 18-year-old is older, as he possesses a maturity, just like Gray, well beyond his age.
Bergvall opted on the left-hand side of the midfield three against QPR early on, but he was given the role of the 'advanced eight' as part of it. By pushing forward, but also dropping deep to act as a deep-lying playmaker, the Swede was in his element early on.
Freedom is all players want — and in the world of tacticians such as Pep Guardiola harbouring specific roles for every single player, Postecoglou's freedom given to Bergvall is a breath of fresh air. It came crashing down the youngster when he was subbed off in the 25th minute due to injury, but it's clear to see his potential.
The duo seem like the 'new exciting kids on the block', and their relationship with one another, which seems to already be strong, will only help their future. "The future is bright. The future is Lilywhite," Tottenham fans have sung in the past; they have every reason to sing it now.
Donley's versatility may prove crucial
Jamie Donley is one of Spurs' most promising youngsters. He picked up five goals and 12 assists in 17 Premier League 2 matches last campaign as a second striker and playmaker. He's held in high regard within Hotspur Way, and his versatility may prove crucial for his future.
The 19-year-old has started the past two pre-season matches at left-back — and he was the only academy player to feature in the opening half in West London. It's not his natural position, far from it, but he looked assured in the role.
Postecoglou's system sees the left-back invert into the centre, essentially acting as another option in the middle of the park. In a similar scenario to Gray and Bergvall, Donley possesses maturity well beyond his age. He understood the task and looked confident, combining neatly with both Oliver Skipp and Gray at the back and Yves Bissouma further forward.
Donley is not expected to play a prominent role at left-back this season, but his performances in pre-season will have only given Postecoglou confidence that he should feature in some form, particularly with the Europa League group stage coming up.
Mikey Moore stood out in Tottenham's young second half side
Mikey Moore may only be 16, he turns 17 at the start of August, but he is already a prominent member of this Spurs squad. He made his debut at the end of last season at home to Manchester City — and, in pre-season, he has continued to impress.
The winger scored a stunning solo goal against Hearts midweek, whilst his second half appearance against QPR will only bolster his confidence. He came on alongside nine other players as Spurs fully rotated their team.
Moore was composed throughout the second half in West London. His passes were well-weighted, controlled and precise. It might sound simple, yet even in a pre-season friendly, it is easy for an inexperienced youngster to feel the weight of pressure; Moore didn't, consistently linking up with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski with ease.
The youngster picked up a stunning assist in the 87th minute, as he drove down the left flank and placed a low ball into the box with the outside of his boot. It takes an incredibly high level of confidence to pull that off.
He even squandered a golden chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper after latching onto a stunning through-ball from Kulusevski, but his overall play was what you expect from a consistent winger, not a 16-year-old.
Alongside Moore, other youngsters took to the centre stage with confidence. As Spurs came under considerably more pressure from QPR in the second half, Ashley Phillips acted as an aggressive centre-back in the backline.
The 19-year-old, who was on loan at Plymouth last campaign, always looked confident, particularly in a defence which harboured Emerson next to him and George Abbott, a midfielder, at left-back.