Sterling’s loan departure does not bode well for his long-term Tottenham prospects

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Young Tottenham striker Kazaiah Sterling has joined League One promotion-chasers Sunderland on loan until the end of the season, as reported by the BBC.

Sterling made his domestic Spurs bow in the 2-0 FA Cup fourth round defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace on Sunday, but will now add firepower to the promotion bid Jack Ross is putting together at the Stadium of Light.

He will hope that the move can prove to be a springboard to building a long-term career at Tottenham – Harry Kane is just one example of the loan system working to that effect.

But the fact that he could not force himself into a greater role at Spurs, given their recent injury crisis in forward areas under a manager who loves to give opportunities to young players must be a worry.

And so to will Pochettino’s history with young players. In March 2017, the Guardian reported Pochettino as saying that he prefers to keep the young players he rates highest around the club with him.

At that time he said of Sterling: “Every day there is an under-18 striker training with Harry Kane. There is no better teacher to learn from. Where would we send him? It would be a completely different philosophy.”

So the fact that Sterling has been allowed to leave at a time when Spurs are so fallow in attack is a concern for his long-term prospects.

Josh Onomah, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marcus Edwards were all named in that Guardian report as players who would not be allowed to leave on loan; all three have since left and not got a look-in at Spurs since.

Sterling must hope he does not follow the same path – or he could find his long-term future lying away from north London.