Tottenham team news: Jamie Donley start v Aston Villa assessed as Spurs sensation watched by Ange Postecoglou
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Alan Hutton doubts Jamie Donley will be making a first-team start for Tottenham any time soon despite Ange Postecoglou’s squad being ravaged by injuries and suspensions.
Spurs had been unbeaten in the Premier League before losing their last two matches, in which injuries and red cards started to blot their almost-pristine copybook.
Donley, 18, is a versatile attacker who can play anywhere from the centre of the midfield, to the number 10 role or as a centre-forward.
He’s also been in sensational form for Spurs’ Under-21s team this season, scoring four goals and supplying eight assists in eight Premier League 2 appearances.
The England Under-19 international’s form has led to him appearing on Postecoglou’s radar with the Aussie boss naming him on the bench for the win over Liverpool and the defeat to Wolves before the international break.
Donley can play in a similar position to injured players like Richarlison, James Maddison and Manor Solomon.
However, Hutton doubts that Donley will be starting for Tottenham any time soon with Postecoglou continuing to keep tabs on him in training at Hotspur Way ahead of Spurs’ clash against Aston Villa at The Lane on Sunday (26 November).
“Look, only Ange will know this. He’ll know if Donley’s ready or not,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“It’s one thing doing it in that younger age group but to be thrown in to play against a team playing at a high level, who are just below them in a league, is a huge ask.
“Only Postecoglou will know. He’ll see him daily in training with the first-team squad. He’ll want to know if he’s got the right character and the right mentality to be able to deal with this.
“He’s not been on the pitch yet, he’s just been on the bench, so it’s a huge step up from that.
“It’ll be a big call from Ange to do that in this game.”
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