Tottenham must explore their options with Dele Alli injured.
Tottenham look light in midfield after an injury to Dele Alli. The England ace is out until March and with no transfers incoming, Spurs must look inwards at solutions.
This should mean considering academy players, as Mauricio Pochettino has done this season by promoting Oliver Skipp to the first team.
Spurs should follow that up by promoting 19-year-old Jack Roles to the first team squad as reward for his excellent form for the under-23s this season.
Like Alli, Roles is an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and a killer pass.
He has been consistently good this season, scoring six times and providing six assists in 22 games in all competitions.
These matches include UEFA Youth League games and Checkatrade Trophy ties, with Roles scoring and providing assists in both.
He has been in good form too, netting three goals in his last seven under-23 matches.
With Alli out, this upcoming couple of months is ideal for Mauricio Pochettino to promote Roles and give him a shot to show what he can do, and see if the teenager can seize the moment.
Roles’ versatility counts in his favour. This season he has played in an attacking midfield role, on the left wing, and as a secondary striker.
This week’s tie against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup may not be the right moment to introduce him, but over the upcoming weeks Tottenham would be missing out if they don’t at least give Roles a shot to prove he can step up.
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