Why Dane Scarlett has final Tottenham point to prove after pre-season developments

Dane Scarlett was a Tottenham Hotspur talent that looked destined for great things in football.

Emerging back in 2020, at just the age of 16, there was plenty to be excited about.

Harry Kane's success at Tottenham had provided belief that Scarlett could follow in a similar trajectory.

So far, there have been quite a few similar instances.

At 22 years old, Scarlett has still yet to make an impact in senior football, but Kane was very much the same at 21 years old.

But, chances for Scarlett to finally showcase that potential is running out and this upcoming pre-season may be his final chance to prove so.

How Dane Scarlett has run out of chances at Tottenham

Tottenham are not exactly in a position to be taking a risk on an unproven forward like Scarlett in the Premier League.

And unproven is the exact word that should be used to describe him.

Despite making his Tottenham debut at just 16 years old in the Europa League under Jose Mourinho, becoming Spurs' youngest-ever player at the time, Scarlett has never kicked on.

Since then, that record has been overtaken by Alfie Devine, who came in at three months younger.

For Scarlett, though, he spent the second half of the last campaign on loan at Hibernian, but he only scored one goal in 13 appearances.

Before that, he joined Oxford United in 2024-2025, netting four goals in 22 games.

In the 2023-2024 campaign, Ipswich Town saw him fail to score in 12 games and in the season prior at Portsmouth, he scored just six in 40 matches.

Overall, those statistics at a lower level are not exactly encouraging numbers.

But, Scarlett has been handed a fresh chance to revive his Tottenham career and potentially put it back on track.

Roberto De Zerbi has named his pre-season squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand and Australia with Scarlett among the names.

Tottenham Hotspur News have been covering the pre-season games, with youngster Luca Williams-Bennet an early impression maker.

Scarlett will now have to do the same as his contract is running out at the end of the current season.

The obstacles facing Scarlett at Tottenham this season

Tottenham have many strikers heading out on the tour, so Scarlett may not get as many minutes as he would hope.

Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Matyhs Tel are all capable of playing centrally.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Mason Melia will be looking to push his way into Spurs' plans for the upcoming season.

If the 22-year-old is handed a chance to play, he needs to take his chance with both hands, or he may not be a Spurs player for long.