View: Alfie Devine masterclass will excite Tottenham boss Postecoglou
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou would have had half an eye on Port Vale’s 2-1 win over Sutton United in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (26 September).
On-loan Spurs youngster Alfie Devine was in action for the Valiants as they booked a spot in round four and put in a noteworthy display for the League One outfit.
Devine has long since been tipped for big things at Spurs and is the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer, breaking that record when he came on as a substitute during the club’s 5-0 FA Cup victory over Marine on 10 January 2021.
He has represented England at various youth levels and was even included in first-team training with Gareth Southgate’s squad during the last international window.
The 19-year-old certainly seems to have a bright future ahead of him, which is what prompted Tottenham to send him out on loan to continue his footballing education.
The midfielder is already making a notable impact at the club. His second appearance for the Valiants saw him come off the bench to grab an equalising assist and score a 99th-minute winning penalty against Oxford United, an impact that saw him earn a string of league starts.
Now, he has demonstrated his quality once again, this time in the Carabao Cup. Devine started for Vale against Sutton and was the highest-rated player on the pitch with a match rating of 8.0 (Sofascore).
Throughout the course of the evening, he provided an assist, played five key passes, had two shots on target, completed four of his six dribbles, provided four accurate long balls forward, and won six of his 11 ground duels.
It was a bright display from the talented Spurs star and one that will certainly have impressed Vale’s management and perhaps offer him the opportunity to get more minutes on the pitch. Port Vale’s victory in the cup sets up a fourth-round tie away at League Two side Mansfield Town, which is a fixture they should certainly be targeting victory in.
This would see them through to the quarter-finals of the competition, where Devine would have the potential platform to make a real name for himself and boost his profile ahead of his return to Hotspur Way next summer.
And in the meantime, if he can keep putting performances of this ilk he will certainly catch the eye of Postecoglou.
In other Tottenham news, one midfielder at the club is now yesterday’s man.