The goalkeeper could make his debut in the League Cup at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night after being named on the bench by Mauricio Pochettino.
General View of White Hart Lane
Tottenham Hotspur have named 17-year-old goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman as back up goalkeeper for Wednesday night’s League Cup match against Gillingham.
With all the talk of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marcus Edwards that has been surrounding the North Londoners in recents months and seasons, the England Under-18 man’s rising stock has gone very much under the radar.
Alfie Whiteman – England
Carter-Vickers will make his professional debut against the Gills, managed by former Spur Justin Edinburgh, and there are as many as three possible debuts from the bench, with Edwards among them, and Anton Walkes, who impressed on the recent tour of Australia, also in line for his first match for Tottenham.
But considering the strength of goalkeepers at Spurs, it is a big boost to the confidence of Whiteman that he has been given a chance of his own debut at White Hart Lane in the League Cup.
Atletico Madrid’s Lucas Hernandez fights for the ball against Espanyol’s goalkeeper Pau Lopez
Spurs signed Spanish Under-21 goalkeeper Pau Lopez on loan this summer, and have internationals Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm firmly in the roles of first choice stoppers, with Luke McGee and Tom Glover arguably ahead of Whiteman in the youth ranks.
With Whiteman set to take a place on the bench for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, here are five facts on the youngster:
1.) Whiteman was born in London in October 1998, and has been on the books of Tottenham since joining the club as an Under-11.
2.) The club website suggests the 17-year-old comes from just down the road from White Hart Lane and has been a fan of Spurs all of his life. In 2012 he was one 23 young goalkeepers invited to a St George’s training camp, alongside Sunderland stopper Jordan Pickford and England Under-21 keeper Angus Gunn.
3.) He was allocated a squad number this year for the first time in his career, one of a number of young players who were moved closer to the first team by Mauricio Pochettino. Whiteman will be wearing 41 this season.
4.) The goalkeeper is a seasoned youth international for England, having played at Under-16, Under-17 and now with Under-18 level for his country. He was moved up to Neil Dewsnip’s squad this season alongside his Spurs teammate Edwards.
5.) Whiteman would be one of the youngest goalkeeper to ever play for Spurs if he makes his debut against Gillingham. Though playing for the youth groups, he has on occasion been bumped up to the Tottenham Under-23 side, making one appearance for them last season and playing in the Uefa Youth League this season.
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