John Wenham praises ‘huge character’ Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett after their Tottenham loan moves
Tottenham News is delighted to welcome John Wenham of Lilywhite Rose as our exclusive columnist. Each week, he’ll be giving his expert insight on the biggest talking points at Spurs…
Alfie Devine will be “buzzing” after his winning goal for his new temporary club, while Dane Scarlett has also secured a “great loan move” for himself away from Tottenham, according to John Wenham.
Both players were sent out on loan switches toward the end of the transfer window to help with their development. Spurs’ youngest-ever goalscorer Devine secured a move to League One side Port Vale, where he recently came off the bench and grabbed a goal and an assist to win the match for his side against Oxford United (2 September).
Meanwhile, Scarlett has been sent to Championship side Ipswich Town, who currently sit second in the division, to work with a manager whom he knows well.
And Wenham is pleased with the decision to send both players on loan, speaking highly of the pair of Tottenham youngsters.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham said: “You have got to have huge character, to come on with 20 minutes to go, get an assist, and then to be the loanee at 19-years-old who steps up to take a 99th-minute penalty, and says ‘I’m having that’ in front of the away end, in a big game like that, to win the match, you’ve got to be very, very confident in yourself.
“I’m delighted for him, he will be buzzing after that and will take it into his form moving forward, he has been called up for the England Under-20s so will take confidence from that as well. Really pleased for Devine.
“Dane Scarlett as well got a first England Under-21s call-up, which is two years above his natural age group, showing how highly he is valued in that setup. I think the Ipswich move will be absolutely perfect for him because their manager Kieran McKenna has on record before said that Scarlett is one of the best young strikers in the country.
“He is a manager that knows him, having been in Tottenham’s academy previously, and has coaches at Ipswich that have worked at Tottenham before, so that is a great loan move.”
In other Tottenham news, the club’s summer net spend shows that some progress was made, but not enough.