Tottenham’s youngsters will be looking to make an impression in the Checkatrade Trophy next season.
The news that Tottenham Hotspur have decided to enter their development squad into next season’s Checkatrade Trophy, as the club website confirmed on Friday, is an opportunity for the North Londoners to continue developing players in precisely the fashion their management team optimises.
Though much of Tottenham’s success in academy development five to ten years ago came as a result of successive loans out for the best prospects, slowly ascending the football period until youngsters reached a level of quality and experience where they could challenge for first team football at White Hart Lane, things have been different under Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine prefers to keep his most talented players close to him, even if they are seeing little senior football.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks with Harry Winks before he comes on as a substitute
Harry Winks is a prime example. The 22-year-old could easily have gone out on loan as a teenager, but Pochettino kept him training with the first team and playing reserve football, instilling in him the same philosophy, tactical and technical guidance that he did to his established players. The other genuine talents to come up from the academy, such as Josh Onomah, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyle Walker-Peters and Marcus Edwards have taken in zero loans between them, even though most could be playing for Championship clubs or lower level Premier League outfits.
At present, Spurs have a well oiled academy system that sees everyone on the same page from Daniel Levy to Mauricio Pochettino to Head of Development John McDermott and down to the coaches in the youth groups.
The chance to remain at Spurs and their world class training facilities, under the watchful eye of those figures, while also being exposed to senior football in the Checkatrade Trophy, is a big opportunity for the youngsters at Hotspur Way.
If Tottenham are successful in the competition – a place at Wembley next spring awaits the finalists – many of their most exciting youths could find themselves the next to step up to the first team.
Coventry City won the Checkatrade Trophy last season
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