Photo: 22-year-old defender who has never played under Conte spotted in Tottenham first-team training

Add as preferred source on Google

Unlike many of their Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur have stayed at home before the season recommences.

The club couldn’t find a facility abroad that matched up to Hotspur Way and so decided against any trip abroad.

Antonio Conte will know how important it is that his side hit the ground running on Boxing Day.

Currently sat in fourth, a point behind Newcastle, but above Manchester United and Liverpool, qualifying for the Champions League is the main aim.

A journey across London to play Brentford is how their season will restart, which will prove to be a tricky test.

A number of Conte’s first team are still in Qatar with their national teams.

He currently missing captain Hugo Lloris, talismanic forward Harry Kane, and wing-back Ivan Perisic.

With a number of players now taking some time off to recover after being eliminated, Conte has taken the opportunity to give some academy players a chance.

Tottenham’s youngsters have struggled for game time under Conte.

Even established first-team players such as Bryan Gil and Japhet Tanganga have barely been seen.

Young defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster has now been seen in first-team training, as he looks to make the step up.

Lyons-Foster spotted in first-team training

The 22-year-old Lyons-Foster has been at Tottenham his whole career without ever playing for the senior side.

Currently the oldest member of the under-21 squad, the centre-back has been an unused substitute in Europe for Spurs.

Primarily a defender, Lyons-Foster can also play as a holding midfielder.

Unfortunately, Conte already has plenty of options in both of these positions at senior level.

Lyons-Foster has trained with the first-team before, however senior opportunities have been hard to come by.

He signed a new deal in March that runs out next summer.

Unless he can find a loan move in January that convinces Spurs to extend his contract, he’s likely to leave the club.

Given his age, the centre-back needs to start playing senior football elsewhere.

However, Lyons-Foster can definitely benefit from training with the first-team at Spurs when the opportunity arises.