Why the stars have aligned for Luca Williams-Barnett after latest Tottenham injury update
Luca Williams-Barnett could soon force his way into Tottenham Hotspur's starting eleven.
The youngster featured several times for the Lilywhites during pre-season, and even grabbed some minutes in a 5-1 Carabao Cup victory over Charlton Athletic.
He is highly regarded as a top talent at Hotspur Way, and there are many club officials who believe he will be a first-team starter in the future.
However, Williams-Barnet needs to start playing minutes at a senior level, and what's been going on at Spurs could only help him.
Wilson Odobert is still sidelined with an injury, while a new update on Mykhailo Mudryk doesn't sound very promising.
Roberto De Zerbi now has just one left-winger fit in Mathys Tel, and this is where Williams-Barnet is surely set to come into the picture.
Why Luca Williams-Barnet can soften Mykhailo Mudryk blow
Mudryk is set to miss several games for Tottenham after suffering an ankle injury in training, and it leaves Tel all alone on the left side of attack.
The Frenchman hasn't scored in either of his three games so far, and despite starting in all of Tottenham's Premier League matches, his FotMob rating stands at a low 6.48 score.
Though Williams-Barnett is naturally an attacking midfielder, his pace and trickery would allow him to thrive out on the left for Spurs.
Not to mention that tactical flexibility is hugely endorsed at Hotspur Way.
The 17-year-old grabbed seven goals and two assists in six UEFA Youth League games for the U19s last term, all while only playing 456 minutes.
He also grabbed 11 goals and assists combined in 10 Premier League 2 matches last season for the U19s, averaging a wicked 7.91 rating on FotMob.
Tottenham sometimes lack an artist in the final third, and the attacker created 2.72 chances per 90 in the Premier League 2, and is head and shoulders above other young talent that the Lilywhites have in N17.
With a lack of attacking options, De Zerbi will surely be left with no other choice but to select Williams-Barnett for his bench in the games to come.
What is De Zerbi's other option after Mathys Tel?
Xavi Simons is another left-wing option for De Zerbi, but the Dutchman won't be available for several months yet.
Tel has created an underwhelming three chances in three games, with a poor shot-on-target rate of 20 per cent.
It seems like now is the perfect time for Williams-Barnett to be given some minutes from the bench at the very least.
But if De Zerbi has a mis lapse in judgment, the only other player he could try out there is Savio, but the Brazilian was rarely, if ever, used anywhere but the right flank when playing for Manchester City.