Jamie Donley poised for full Tottenham debut as Ange Postecoglou faces fresh injury blow
Jamie Donley is a name that will excite most Tottenham fans, despite having only been handed three minutes of football in the Premier League this season.
Ange Postecoglou has kept the 19-year-old on the fringe of the senior team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, bringing him on as an extremely late substitute in Premier League matches against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Brentford.
Donley was awarded a few more minutes in the FA Cup as Spurs claimed a 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday 14 January, but it has certainly been an incremental introduction for the young prospect.
The England youth international has been in phenomenal form in Spurs’ Premier League 2 campaign, boasting four goals and 11 assists in 13 matches.
He may possess a lack of senior experience, having never been loaned out from the club, but his exploits at youth level more than warrant a full first-team debut, and Donley’s chances may have just been boosted.
Could Manor Solomon’s injury update provide Jamie Donley his Tottenham full debut?
Manor Solomon has been an invisible figure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since signing from Fulham last summer, making just six appearances, mostly due to his extensive injury woes.
While the media have been questioning when the Israeli winger might be returning, clarity has been provided after the player’s agent, Shlomi Ben Ezra was quoted by Israeli outlet One [26 March] as saying: “Bad luck has ended his season, unfortunately.
“But it is better that he arrives ready for next season. He underwent a small operation 10 days ago for a lot of improvements.”
Though Solomon has been relatively unused by Postecoglou, Donley could make the most of this news and take advantage by winning his first start in Spurs colours.
The promising youth prospect is primarily an attacking midfielder, sometimes playing off the striker, but in his three Premier League cameos he has replaced a winger on each occasion.
With eight matches of the Premier League campaign and the ambition of finishing in the top-four spots remaining, the Australian will need to depend on his squad depth in the end-of-season run-in.
Obviously, Son Heung-min is at the top of the pile for the club’s assisters this season, boasting eight in the division, but Pedro Porro and James Maddison are one behind the South Korean.
If Spurs want to pip Aston Villa to a top-four finish while claiming Champions League football for next season, Donley’s incredible knack for providing teammates with easy goals could be a useful weapon.
In other Tottenham news, Postecoglou will be delighted as young talent at Hotspur Way continues to dominate on the international stage.
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