Photo: Spurs academy right-back drafted in training as Matt Doherty replacement

Tottenham Hotspur have been preparing for their Premier League meeting with Brighton on Saturday.

Antonio Conte’s charges will be hoping to make it five top-flight wins in a row in the day’s early kickoff.

Just a few weeks ago, Spurs were dazzling and frustrating in equal measure, following up wins with defeats.

However, Spurs have since shaken off this inconsistency to win six of their last seven in the top flight.

They weren’t narrow wins either – four were by four or more goals, and all six were by at least two goals.

Tottenham be up against a Brighton side eager to make it two wins in a row in north London.

The Seagulls picked up a 2-1 win against Arsenal at the Emirates last week, so they’ll be fancying their chances.

While Tottenham are in better form and looking more solid than the Gunners, Conte was handed a big blow this week.

Matt Doherty is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against Aston Villa last Saturday.

With that in mind, Conte called up one of the Tottenham academy’s top talents as an apparent replacement.

“A player with a future”

Marcel Lavinier joined Tottenham in the summer of 2020 after leaving the Chelsea academy.

The 21-year-old made his senior Spurs debut in the 4-0 Europa League win over Wolfsberger in February 2021.

He has also made 42 appearances for Tottenham’s U23s including 20 this season, registering four assists too.

“Lavinier of course has more experience (than Nile John), a little bit older,” Jose Mourinho told football.london after the full-back’s debut.

“Always training with us a lot of times. He’s a man, a young man, a very serious full-back, also a player with a future.”

The Daily Mail wrote a scouting article about Lavinier in February 2021.

“Lavinier primarily plays as a right-back,” began the article. “And his speed is a huge asset, but his versatility also stands out.

“He’s able to play anywhere along the back four and has occasionally featured at left-back while turning out for Tottenham.

“Lavinier loves to get forward and is very direct – often looking up and aiming to ping balls into the area, but he’s an equally competent defender.

“He doesn’t mind getting stuck into a tackle, and also has the confidence to play his way out of danger if the situation allows.”