Matthew Chadder

Sat 30 December 2023 10:10, UK Updated Sat 6 January 2024 7:12, UK

Matthew Chadder is a lifelong Tottenham fan who grew up just down the road from his beloved club in North London. He’s now putting his passion for Spurs into words with a daily fan view for Tottenham News…

Alejo Veliz has finally scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur.

In all fairness to the youngster, it is not exactly his fault that the goal didn’t come sooner. Before coming on against Brighton, in what proved to be a very miserable defeat, he had only played a total of 14 Premier League minutes.

After watching us ship four goals at the Amex Stadium, Veliz’s goal was a welcome surprise and while it didn’t ultimately lead to much on the night, it was a reminder that the future is bright, if we get it right.

I find it strange that more hasn’t been made of Veliz’s lack of game time this season. I know he is only 20 years old, and as a result, many people are treating him as a ‘young player,’ but Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund is only 20, and he was scoring goals in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Tottenham often seem to have a reluctance to turn to the younger players in their squad, with many of our stars’ developments having stagnated over the years – I am thinking about the likes of Marcus Edwards and Noni Madueke, both players who have gone on to prove they are more than capable.

Very little has been produced – barring of course the sensational exception of Harry Kane – from our academy over the past few years, despite the club’s extraordinary training ground and facilities which Mr. Daniel Levy loves to show off at any possible opportunity.

Veliz’s strike against Brighton proved that he knows where the back of the net is, so why is Postecoglou so reluctant to take a chance on him?

It might not work out, but if we don’t give him game time, then why would he stick around? He is in the period of his career where playing as much football as possible is of the utmost importance, so let’s give him that opportunity.

After all, we paid £13million to sign the player (BBC Sport, 8 August), which is not a small fee. Yes, it is small in the context of today’s market, but for a player who was 19 at the time with no previous experience in Europe, that is a considerable investment.

For that kind of money, you are expecting someone who is going to play more than 68 minutes of a Premier League season – which is exactly the number of minutes he will feature for if he is used in the same way during the second half of the season as he was in the first.

He deserves at least a start here or there, and with a goal under his belt, this is the perfect time for Postecoglou to throw him in at the deep end and build his confidence. Son Heung-min will be missing in January as a result of his commitments with South Korea at the Asia Cup, meaning a spot will open up in the club’s forward line.

However, if the player continues to be mismanaged, this could be another case of ‘What if?’ as another young, promising star searches for an exit route from Hotspur Way.

In other Tottenham news, one BBC Sport pundit believes the club should try a “lowball offer” for a Premier League defender in January.