The youngster has been impressing in the Under-20 World Cup, and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino will have been keeping a close eye on things as he prepared his released list.
Tottenham’s Josh Onomah celebrates scoring
Events over the last couple of weeks, including Tottenham Hotspur revealing their released list, hint that the club and their manager Mauricio Pochettino could be set to give midfielder Josh Onomah more chances in the 2017/18 season.
Onomah will likely have been disappointed by his lack of appearances in the recently concluded season, especially after an impressive breakthrough campaign the year before.
The 20-year-old registered 12 appearances over the last 12 months, including highlights such as his first senior goal for the club and his Champions League debut, but of note will be that he accumulated just 275 minutes of first team action, only 17 of which came in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s Josh Onomah is substituted on for Harry Kane
Compared to the season before, Onomah registered more appearances, more top flight minutes and more overall minutes as an 18-year-old.
However, many of the youngster’s early appearances under Mauricio Pochettino came in attacking midfield or wide positions, where there was less responsibility on his shoulders.
This summer, at the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, Onomah has impressed as a number eight in a deeper and more central midfield position. Working hard to intercept the opposition, bring the ball forward and spray passes in order to start England attacks, he has looked assured and commanding in the role. He was harshly dismissed in the quarter-final against Mexico but is likely to return to the starting eleven for the final against Venezuela.
England’s Josh Onomah celebrates scoring
And Tottenham’s decision to release Filip Lesniak, who made his debut late in the season, coupled with Onomah’s impressive international form and Harry Winks’ ongoing recovery from injury, could see Onomah given a chance as one of the central midfield options for Mauricio Pochettino next season – a position he has long been earmarked for as he came up through the age groups.
And few will deny that he deserves it if he returns as a World Cup winner.
Filip Lesniak has been released despite assisting one of Harry Kane’s Leicester goals as a substitute
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