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Tottenham youngster Ashley Phillips is performing well on loan at Stoke City

Tottenham Hotspur aren’t short on young talent at the moment, with Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear leading the way when it comes to exciting prospects emerging out of Hotspur Way.

Ange Postecoglou has not hesitated to give young talents and academy products opportunities to shine in the first team. He is aware of the development of the academy kids, and to help them take the next step, the Spurs boss allowed many of them to leave on loan. One of those was Ashley Phillips.

Ashley Phillips, who arrived at Tottenham from Blackburn Rovers in 2023, spent the second half of last season on loan at Plymouth Argyle. The youngster was one of Plymouth Argyle’s standout performers, playing a key role in helping the club secure their Championship status.

He returned to N17 in June and signed for Championship side Stoke City on a season-long loan two months later. After a slow start to life at Stoke City, the teenager is beginning to make strides and grab the opportunities coming his way with both hands.

John Wenham—the owner of the reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose—thinks Phillips should be ready for a Premier League loan next season after he returns from Blackburn. After back-to-back loan spells in the Championship, he wants the Tottenham youngster to test himself in the English top flight.

“I think Phillips will be ready for a Premier League loan next season,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.

“Hopefully the rest of this loan goes well for Phillips. If it does, I don’t see the point in him doing a third loan in the Championship.

“Therefore, it will have to be Premier League, and then see where things go from there.”

Phillips is taking impressive strides into senior football, and the fact that he had to patiently wait for his opportunities in the opening months of the season will allow him to develop in different facets of being a professional football player.

New Stoke boss Narcis Pelach has given the Manchester-born talent great confidence since replacing Steven Schumacher in mid-September. Under Pelach, the Potters are comparatively doing well and Phillips has been one of the key players in their resurgence. He started against his former employers Blackburn in midweek, helping his team keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 away success.

This was the teenager’s fourth successive start for the Championship outfit, and with every passing game, Phillips is gaining the trust of Pelach. Should the Stoke loan go well, the bosses at the Hotspur Way must consider sending the central defender on loan to a Premier League club next season.

Exposing Phillips to top-level football is essential and a temporary switch to a Premier League side—a mid-table or promoted—before integrating him into the Spurs side would not be a bad idea.

Eyebrows were raised when Tottenham Hotspur forked out £40m to land teenager Archie Gray from the English second tier following his antics for Leeds United as Daniel Levy acted swiftly to land his signatures from under Brentford’s noses in the eleventh hour.

And while he has not enjoyed consistent minutes under his belt at White Hart Lane, the 18-year-old has been impressing the coaches at Hotspur Way behind the scenes as Leeds ace Patrick Bamford reveals how Archie had been surprising people at N17 and how he also broke a record in his early days in North London.

Bamford praises Gray’s exceptional fitness levels at Spurs

Only months into his spell with his new employers, Archie Gary has kept the supporters on the edge of their seats when he takes the field and has shown flashes of the immense potential that convinced Tottenham to invest heavily in him. Now, Bamford has revealed that Gray is very impressive with his fitness.

The former Chelsea forward goes on to reveal that the teenager is class apart when it comes to endurance and fitness, as the 31-year-old revealed that Gray set a new record for the VO2 max test at Hotspur Way when the teenager initially moved to the N17 last synonym.

Bamford, speaking on My Mate’s A Footballer podcast, said:

“The epitome of a fit midfielder is Archie Gray. That guy is a freak. An absolute machine. When he went to Tottenham, I texted him and asked him how it was going. And he said that the one thing they might struggle with is kind of coping with the demands in training and fitness levels.

“And then he did the VO2 max test. You basically put some kind of mask on that measure, and you run on a treadmill until a threshold, until you can’t keep that pace any longer.

“And whatever the record was beforehand, he absolutely smashed out of the park. And afterwards, they were just like, Yeah, I don’t think fitness is going to be an issue.”

Ange Postecoglou likes his players to be on the front foot and always running, be it pressing or recovering, and he would love to have an engine of Archie Gray in his squad.

Tottenham winger Wilson Odobert has suffered a serious injury setback

Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

The Lilywhites are coming off a disappointing result after losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday. So, Ange Postecoglou will want a response from his boys in midweek. A win over Pep Guardiola’s Man City will keep Spurs’ hopes of winning a trophy alive.

However, Tottenham have suffered a big injury blow ahead of the cup game. Addressing in his pre-match press conference at the Hotspur Way, Ange Postecoglou confirmed summer signing Wilson Odobert has suffered a serious injury setback.

“The only other one missing out (other than Heung-Min Son) which is a bit of a disappointment is Wilson (Odobert), who has had a setback during the week and it seems like it is a serious one, so we’re just waiting for more information,” Postecoglou said.

Wilson Odobert, who arrived in north London from Burnley in the summer, returned as a substitute against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last Thursday after more than a month out with a hamstring problem.

However, the speedy winger dropped out of the squad for the disappointing 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace. What the Tottenham gaffer could reveal though is that the injury is not believed to be the same as which has kept the teenager out of action for more than a month, although it is in the same area.

“(It’s) not exactly the same (injury) but (it’s the) same area,” he added.

Odobert has made five appearances for Tottenham, making three starts and coming off the bench twice. The Frenchman came on off the bench in the 88th minute in the 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar last Thursday—which was his first outing since the Carabao Cup third-round win over Coventry City on September 18.

The winger’s injury is a big blow for Big Ange and Spurs, who have endured a highly inconsistent season so far. It is a setback for Odobert in his first season at the Hotspur Way as well, especially when he had only returned to the squad after recovering from a hamstring issue.

Prior to that, the Meaux-born talent was settling at our club quite well. It now remains to be seen for how long Odobert will be out. We can only pray the teenage prodigy recovers swiftly and comes back stronger.

The Lilywhites have been subject to links with a move for Ipswich Town centre-forward Liam Delap, with recent reports stating that the North Londoners could make a move for Manchester City academy graduate in the upcoming winter transfer window as his current employers set a £30 million price tag for the 2003-born striker.

However, ex-Lilywhites scout Bryan King doesn’t think that his former employers would sign the 21-year-old in upcoming January, citing that it wouldn’t make sense for the Tractor Boys to sell the striker midway through the season.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Tottenham News, King said:

“They’ve just signed a striker from Bournemouth for £60million-plus. You’ve got Richarlison and Solanke. You wouldn’t be looking to bring in another striker until at least next summer unless someone left Spurs in January. However, then it depends on if Ipswich Town are willing to sell him. I think they’re going to have problems in the Premier League.

“Therefore, the one guy scoring your goals, why would you want to sell him? That would be bad business, in a season where they’re trying to survive.”

Should Spurs pursue Delap?

Liam Delap has been enjoying some impressive time with the Premier League new boys, with the 21-year-old already netting four goals in the ongoing campaign; however, a lot at Tottenham depends on the situation with Richarlison and whether the Brazilian stays put at White Hart Lane or is forced out of N17 to make way for a new arrival.

While Spurs target Delap, it is also important to remember that Ange Postecoglou has the likes of Will Lankshear, Lejo Véliz, and Dane Scarlett as probable options if he decides to hand minutes to young players.

From villain to hero at Hotspur Way: Brennan Johnson

Early in the season, Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson found himself at the centre of a storm. Criticised harshly for his lack of goal contributions in the matches against Leicester City, Everton, Newcastle, and Arsenal, he was subjected to relentless abuse on social media.

Johnson’s start to the season was, let’s be honest, pretty grim. No goals, no assists, and everyone was wondering if he was even Spurs quality. That game against Arsenal was the worst of the lot. Missed chances galore, and we ended up losing 1-0. The fans were fuming, and social media was having a right go at him. People were calling for him to be dropped, and it looked like he was in for a long season.

Despite showing flashes of his potential, he failed to register any goals or assists in key matches. Add this to the fact that his first season at Hotspur Way last term only ended with five goals and ten assists in 38 appearances. It also made fans that extra bit frustrated with how things were going with the Welshman at the club.

His performance against Arsenal was a low point, where his missed chances were a significant factor in the team’s 1-0 loss. The backlash on social media was swift and brutal, with fans questioning his place in the squad and his future at the club.

The BIG change?

Fast forward three weeks from that difficult period, and Johnson has transformed into Ange Postecoglou’s go-to man, with six goals in his last six games. This remarkable turnaround has fans and pundits alike asking: what changed?

The catalyst for Johnson’s resurgence came from a seemingly simple yet profound change: he deleted his Instagram account. By removing himself from the constant stream of negativity and criticism, Johnson was able to focus entirely on his game. This decision allowed him to block out the external noise and obviously, to concentrate on improving his performance on the pitch. The results have been nothing short of spectacular.

Since that turning point, Bren has scored six goals in six games (Coventry, Brentford, Qarabag, Man United, Ferencvaros and Brighton). His six-game goal-scoring streak is reminiscent of club legend Harry Kane, who achieved similar runs in the 2018/19 and 2015 seasons. Johnson’s ability to find the back of the net has provided a much-needed boost to Tottenham’s attacking options and has reignited the team’s offensive prowess.

Johnson’s not just about goals either. His defensive work has been top-notch. He’s pressing high, winning back possession, and disrupting the opposition. This side of his game has been crucial for us, helping us control matches and keep the pressure on the other teams.

Take the game against Manchester United, for instance. Johnson was absolutely class. He was all over the pitch, causing their defence nightmares. Scored a beauty and played with so much confidence. It was like watching a different player from the one we saw earlier in the season. He was pressing, creating chances, and just looked like he was having the time of his life out there.

All-round work!

But it’s not just about the goals. Johnson’s work rate has been something else. He’s tracking back, helping out defensively, and just putting in a shift every game. His determination and attitude have been spot-on, and it’s clear he’s out to prove a point. The lad’s got grit, and it’s making a difference.

With his recent form, Johnson’s etched his name in the Spurs record books. Scoring in six consecutive starts? That’s no mean feat. Only Harry Kane’s done that for us in recent years. It’s not just a purple patch; it surely shows he’s got the quality and consistency to be a top player for us. Teddy Sheringham and Clive Allen done it in the past, but that’s just a few years after the Stone Age.

We’ve got to give a shoutout to Ange Postecoglou here too. The gaffer also did not get carried away by the sad run of form early on in the season. He’s stuck by Johnson, given him the freedom to play his game, and it’s paying off. Ange’s attacking style suits Johnson down to the ground, and it’s brought out the best in him. The gaffer’s faith in him has certainly been crucial.

Consistency is key!

Johnson doing his bits for Wales will help his confidence no end. With the international break dawning upon us, we have to speak of that angle as well. Johnson scoring and playing well on the international stage will give him that extra boost. When he comes back to Spurs after international duty, he’d then be buzzing and ready to go. It will all add up nicely for him.

At just 23, Johnson’s got a bright future ahead. If he keeps this up, he could be a world-class player in the making. Consistency will be key, but the player has shown he’s got the talent and mentality to go far. The fans are behind him now, and as long as he keeps delivering, he’ll be a fan favourite.

It’s all about keeping up this level of performance. The season’s long, and there’ll be ups and downs. He can handle it, though, as evident by his performances in recent weeks. Staying focused, working hard, and ignoring the noise will be vital. The fans and the manager’s support will help him stay on track.

Tottenham Hotspur might be about to get another player off their transfer list as Real Betis are planning to sign Giovani Lo Celso.

Real Betis Monitoring Giovani Lo Celso as Tottenham Hotspur Clear Deadwood

Lo Celso Made ‘Top Target’

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Betis are “pushing to sign” Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. The player has been attracting serious interest from the La Liga side after they made him their “target”.

With Nabil Fekir close to leaving Real Betis, negotiations for Lo Celso will start soon. Saudi Arabian club Al Jazira are said to be advancing in talks for the French professional footballer. That might help facilitate this transfer, with Romano adding that the Argentine is expected to leave Spurs this summer.

Lo Celso has already had a short stint with Real Betis in 2018-19. Thus, he should have no problem settling in if the transfer materialises.

Benchwarmer Role at Spurs

Ange Postecoglou prefers the likes of Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, and Pape Matar Sarr for his midfield. This has turned Lo Celso into a fringe payer. Consequently, he has made just four league starts under his Australian manager, playing 506 minutes.

The signing of youngsters Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray from Djurgarden and Leeds United means the writing is on the wall for the 28-year-old, with Spurs clearly prioritising young players.

Moreover, Lo Celso’s injury record hasn’t been very encouraging either. He has missed ten or more games in each of the last five seasons. With a huge number of games being played in modern football, staying injury-free is imperative to stake a claim for your place in a club like Spurs.

At Real Betis, he has a better chance of making it into the starting lineup and recovering his form. Hence a move away might benefit both him and the club.

Tottenham Hotspur are in a close fight with Aston Villa for the last Champions League spot for next year. Last Word on Sports gives our Tottenham predicted lineup for the London derby against David Moyes’ West Ham on April 2, 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur received a significant boost as one of their players, who was previously considered unfit, has shown positive progress. Spurs’ striker Richarlison recently revealed that he is experiencing discomfort in his knee and does not feel completely fit.

We are in the final stretch of the 2023/24 Premier League season and there is still a lot of football to be played. Tottenham Hotspur have 10 games remaining, including facing each of the top three teams Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

We are in the final stretch of the 2023/24 Premier League season and there is still a lot of football to be played. Tottenham Hotspur have 10 games remaining, including facing each of the top three teams Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.