Ange Postecoglou hints he could give game time to ‘terrific’ 18-year-old Spurs gem

Add as preferred source on Google

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has hinted that Alfie Dorrington could be in line for senior game time goon.

The Spurs boss was speaking at his press conference ahead of Thursday’s Premier League meeting with West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Postecoglou acknowledged that Spurs have been really thin on defensive numbers and, as such, Dorrington could get a chance in the coming weeks.

Over the past few weeks, Tottenham have been without the injured Micky van de Ven and the suspended Cristian Romero, who is now back.

These absences meant that the likes of Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, and Eric Dier have filled in at centre-back for Spurs in recent weeks.

‘Maybe he will get an opportunity’

In quotes transcribed by football.london, Postecoglou was asked whether Tottenham’s defensive crisis meant Dorrington could get a look-in.

“He’s been in the squad the last three or four weeks,” said the Tottenham boss.

“Alfie and Jamie (Donley), who got on, they are training with us and part of the first-team so they have a chance every day to show what they can do and be involved.

“At the moment we are really thin on defensive numbers so maybe he will get an opportunity over the next couple of weeks.”

Alfie Dorrington a top prospect for Tottenham Hotspur

In recent weeks, there have been calls for Dorrington to make his Tottenham senior debut after an impressive rise through the Spurs ranks.

This season, Dorrington has made eight Premier League 2 appearances – registering an assist – and three EFL Trophy outings.

The 6ft 5in defender has helped Spurs’ U21s win every one of their Premier League 2 games of the season so far.

Football.london‘s Alasdair Gold, speaking on a Q&A earlier this season, said Dorrington is a “terrific young defender”.

Obviously we can’t get ahead of ourselves, despite him being such a great prospect.

The gulf between Under-21 football and senior Premier League football is huge, and very few teenage players can bridge that gap seamlessly.

Dorrington looks likely to make his Spurs debut this season, but he’ll likely need a stint or two in the EFL ahead of potentially becoming a regular for Tottenham.