Tottenham Hotspur youngster Dane Scarlett is making an excellent first impression at Portsmouth with manager Danny Cowley ‘privileged’ to work with one of the Premier League’s most exciting forwards, speaking to The News.
After scoring 18 goals in league 20 games for Tottenham’s U18 side – and following the odd cameo appearance at first-team level – Scarlett will be playing regular, senior football for the first time this season.
The 18-born Londoner joined third-tier Portsmouth on loan in July.
And, despite playing just 44 minutes of football so far in Pompey colours, Scarlett has done enough already to convince Cowley – and plenty of others at Fratton Park – why there is so much hype around this baby-faced number nine.
Spurs loanee Dane Scarlett making a real impression at Portsmouth
“I think Dane, against the ball, is ‘wow’,” says the former Lincoln City boss.
Clearly, it’s not just Scarlett’s eye for goal that has caught the eye on the South Coast. It’s his work-rate out of possession too; An attribute that bodes well for his hopes of a future under the disciplinarian Antonio Conte.
“For an 18-year-old, his understanding of how to defend from the front, and the speed and aggression that he can go and press the ball, is like he’s got the eye of the tiger.
‘He’s got this ruthless streak to his game; Both against the ball – how quickly he gets up to it – but also then his movement and his reactive quality. In training he’s looked really exciting and it’s lovely from our perspective.
“We’re so privileged to be able to wake up every morning and be able to come in and watch such a young talent grow and develop.”
Scarlett, who has scored 12 times in 14 matches for England at U19 level, will be hoping to start a league game for the very first time in his young career this weekend. Portsmouth travel to struggling Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
And Scarlett, if he’s given the nod, will certainly have his eye on a goal or two. Cheltenham, after all, lost 7-0 at home to Exeter City in the Carabao Cup first round this week.
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