Tottenham Expert: Ashley Phillips will be a key player for Plymouth Argyle this season
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…
John Wenham believes Ashley Phillips will become a key player for Plymouth Argyle during the defender’s loan spell with the Championship club.
Spurs recently announced that Phillips had joined Plymouth on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign (Tottenham Hotspur Official Website, 8 January).
The 18-year-old was thrown straight into the deep end when he was named in the starting lineup for the club’s 1-1 draw away at Huddersfield Town that following weekend, and impressed on his debut, being named the Fans’ Player of the Match (Plymouth Argyle Official X, 13 January).
Wenham believes that Phillips will excel during his temporary stay in the Championship, and is excited to see how the youngster develops.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham said: “For him, it is just about getting game time, that is the most important thing.
“Plymouth Argyle’s manager, Ian Foster, knows Phillips from the England setup. He was the manager of the England Under-20s at a time when Phillips was on a long list of players to feature at that level, although he didn’t in the end as he instead became the captain of the England Under-19s.
“Nonetheless, they are still clearly very aware of Philips and won’t be bringing him in just to make up the numbers, I fully expect him to be a regular this season.
“Hopefully, he can establish himself at the club, and if they can stay in the division, then I wouldn’t be averse to him doing another year there next year.
“That would see him returning to Hotspur Way in the summer of 2025 with 50/60 games of senior men’s football under his belt, which would be ideal.”
In other Tottenham news, Wenham wants one Spurs midfielder gone after a recent update from Sky Sports News.
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