Mateus Fernandes set for Tottenham lift-off as Portuguese media blown away by 'audacious' moment

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mateus Fernandes played a massive part in helping Portugal Under-21s qualify for next summer's Euros.

The 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes of last week's defeat to Bulgaria and was again selected from the start against Gibraltar on Wednesday.

Portugal had a much better time of things in that second game of this window as they romped to a 4-0 victory.

The win ensures Luis Freire's side will compete in next summer's Euro U21 Championships, which runs between June and July.

Fernandes, who skippers the U21 side, particularly caught the eye against Gibraltar.

After being hailed by the local media, the former West Ham United ace now looks ready to seriously push on at Spurs.

How did Mateus Fernandes perform for Portugal U21s?

Fernandes again played the full 90 minutes of the contest on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores.

Fernandes did not get on the scoresheet himself, but he registered one assist and effectively created another.

His delivery from a corner in the 89th minute was headed home by Goncalo Oliveira.

And not long after, he was involved in the build-up as Javan Peacock put the ball into his own net.

That one assist is one more than Fernandes has for Tottenham so far in the Premier League, though he has registered two in the Carabao Cup.

Portugoal was certainly impressed by Fernandes' performance, hailing his flick in the build-up to that own goal as "audacious".

The outlet also mentioned how the captain "came to the fore" late on with his part in those two goals.

The Futebol Sentido account on X, meanwhile, which specialises in Portuguese football, said it is "cheating" using a player of Fernandes' quality at U21 level.

And Canal 11 pointed out how Fernandes also showed his caring side by consoling Peacock on the field after he was left upset by his own goal.

Fernandes' impressive display for the U21s may just have come at the perfect time.

Could Fernandes get senior call after Cristiano Ronaldo strop?

Portugal's greatest ever player Cristiano Ronaldo left the senior side's training camp on Wednesday amid a reported falling out with boss Jorge Jesus.

It is clear Portugal need a new talisman to replace the forward, whose career is surely reaching its end.

Fernandes made a big-money switch to Spurs in the summer and, while he has not exactly set the world alight so far, there have been encouraging signs.

The 22-year-old is not afraid to shoot - he is fifth on the list of most shots on target per 90 minutes among Tottenham players - but he could do with adding some goals and assists to his game.

Fernandes is also second for fouls per 90 with 3.21, as per FBref, highlighting the other side to his game.

Jesus needs to look to the future and, while Fernandes is not the same player as Ronaldo, he is clearly a strong leader - as highlighted in the above media reports.

If Portugal are to look to the future now, it makes total sense for Jesus to promote Fernandes at the earliest opportunity.