Perhaps not surprisingly for a team that was led by Jose Mourinho last season Tottenham had a relatively low level of involvement from youth players, with only Steven Bergwijn breaking one thousand minutes. This time out Spurs have a much more youth friendly manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, at the helm and a talented group of players that could be pushing for meaningful minutes.
Having finished 3rd in the U23 Premier League last season there is obvious talent within the academy waiting to have their chance with the likes of J’Neil Bennett and Dilan Marakanday putting in impressive performances during this pre-season.
Another stand out performer has been sixteen year old Alfie Devine. Signed from Wigan in 2020 the midfielder went from an U18 to the first team squad in just a few months and will be a very important player for Tottenham U23s this coming season which promises another strong campaign at this level.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Joshua Oluwayemi |
| CB | Brooklyn Lyons-Foster |
| CB | Tobi Omole |
| RB | Marcel Lavinier |
| LB | Timothy Eyoma |
| CM | Nile John |
| CM | Alfie Devine |
| CM | Harvey White |
| RW | Dilan Markanday |
| LW | J’Neil Bennett |
| CF | Dane Scarlett |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Aaron Maguire |
| CB | Dermi Lusala |
| CB | Alfie Dorrington |
| RB | Dante Cassanova |
| LB | Jordan Hackett |
| CM | Jez Davies |
| CM | Khalon Haysman |
| CM | Oliver Turner |
| RW | Roshaun Mathurin |
| LW | Rio Kyerematen |
| CF | Jamie Donley |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Oliver Skipp
- Position: DM
- Age: 20
- Nationality: English
Skipp joined Norwich on loan for the 20/21 season aged nineteen and immediately established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Championship. Starting fourty-four of Norwich’s fourty-six league games, the England U21 international proved to have a great passing range and a nose for the defensive side of the game. He has that knack of being in the right place at the right time, rarely needing to go to ground to win the ball back but instead being a terrier nipping at a player’s ankles. While he is not the quickest player he is more than capable of moving through midfield with the ball to get himself out of trouble. With Harry Winks failing to impress recently there is every chance that Oliver Skipp will beat him out for a regular role in the Spurs midfield.
Ryan Sessegnon
- Position: LB
- Age: 21
- Nationality: English
Let’s be honest, you forgot Sessegnon existed didn’t you? The England U21 international spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim, which proved to be a decent stint for the young man who has lost his way slightly since lighting up the Championship as a teenager. Acknowledging his previous struggles, Sessegnon said that his time in Germany has made him calmer in possession - a clear area for improvement - and if he can transition that back to the Premier League then he instantly becomes one of the most intriguing prospects in English football. The rampaging left back is lightning quick and has an incredible eye for goal for a player who is, on paper at least, a defender. Also capable of playing on the left wing, Sessegnon’s versatility makes him a prime candidate to force himself into Santo’s first team squad for the coming year.
Dane Scarlett
- Position: CF
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
If you were to ask any Tottenham supporter who the best player at their academy is right now then there is no doubt they would immediately respond “Dane Scarlett”. The London born centre forward has excelled at every level with an incredible scoring record catapulting him straight into first team contention at just seventeen-years-old. In pre-season, Scarlett has started well with a goal for the first team and Spurs management have reportedly ruled out a loan move as they see him staying in the first team squad as more important. A pure goal scorer, Scarlett has some strings to his bow but he is predominantly a finisher. A brief look at his youth career will show you every type of goal - headers, tap ins, penalties, long range strikes… he just loves scoring and there is nothing to suggest that will suddenly stop when he does indeed get more first team action.