Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Thu 16 April 2026 16:10, UK

Mikey Moore has been touted for a place in the England squad, as Tottenham Hotspur talent Luca Williams-Barnett was told to copy his path.

Moore has been in sensational form on loan at Rangers, with six goals and three assists in 42 appearances north of the border.

Williams-Barnett is rated very highly at Hotspur Way, just like Moore, and there have been calls for him to be handed a first-team opportunity.

However, there are doubts over whether he is ready for that level of scrutiny at the moment, as he has made just one appearance for the senior side.

Tottenham are set for a very bright future in terms of their youth products, but it may not involve the 17-year-old, just yet.

Why should Williams-Barnett follow Moore example at Tottenham?

John Wenham has previously labelled the Tottenham youngster as “outstanding”, but he does not think that he is ready for a senior berth yet, and believes that he should follow in Moore’s footsteps.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “I still think Williams-Barnett would probably be better suited by trying to get a first loan next year, look at Mikey Moore.

“He’s only one year older than Luca, but he’s got 40-odd appearances for Rangers now, in a club where the expectation is that you go in there to win.

“You go in there each game, and it’s probably a higher expectation at Rangers among their fans than there is playing for Tottenham.

“It’s the reality, in terms of they’re expected every week to go out and dominate and win.

“He could have gone off to Reading or whatever, and it’d be a cakewalk for a first loan, go over to Reading and get 15 goals and play in front of three sides of the stadium empty, or you go to Rangers, where they demand the best from you, and he’s done that.

“He’s another one who, I think, if De Zerbi had a look at him in the summer, could break into the squad.

“He’s another one where all he has to do is play a handful of games for Spurs, everything’s going well, and suddenly you’re backing him for England and everything.”

What should Williams-Barnett do?

A similar approach to Moore would probably benefit Williams-Barnett the most, as he would learn the rigours of senior football.

If he could find a place at a club where the expectation is similar to the Glasgow side, that would help his development tremendously.

It would allow him to prove his quality in difficult circumstances and put him in a position where he would be ready to succeed with the Lilywhites.