Have Tottenham given up on 20-year-old midfielder Josh Onomah?

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Josh Onomah has joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan after signing a new four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur.

This move came largely out of the blue, as he was expected to play a more prominent role this season.

The 20-year-old midfielder travelled with the Spurs to the United States last week and started in the club’s pre-season victory over Paris Saint Germain.

Usually, manager Mauricio Pochettino opts to keep his star young players with him to protect them from perceived lesser coaches, trusting in his own ability to train them and teach them the way he likes to play.

So, with Onomah being rated as one of the best future prospects in the Spurs set-up, it comes as a surprise that the Argentine head coach would be keen to send him to Villa.

Does this mean Tottenham are giving up on Onomah?

As The Guardian reports, the deal may have been accelerated due to Jack Grealish’s injury. Aston Villa are relying more on their young attacking midfield as games go on, so having Grealish out may have hurt their efforts if Onomah were not to step in.

On paper, this all seems perfect. Villa benefit from filling a vital gap and Onomah, who has reached the stage where he needs to play regular first-team football, can get receive some valuable game time.

However, it doesn’t seem to be that simple under the surface.

Pochettino has used the loan system at Spurs to give his younger players experience, putting them on display ahead of an eventual sale when their loan is over. Since the 45-year-old took over at Spurs, no player sent out on loan has returned to play for the club.

One reason that Pochettino prefers to keep youngsters with him is so that they take the time to reach the complexity and intensity of his style of football. It requires both a high level of fitness and co-ordination and is the only way the manger can ensure that the talent coming through the club’s youth system will fit into the first team when they are deemed ready.

Villa manager Steve Bruce’s approach isn’t much different, so a move to the Championship club will be good for Onomah’s growth and development, but by the time his loan is over, he is unlikely to be in Pochettino’s plans.