Djed Spence delivered a timely reminder of just what he can do in a Tottenham shirt as Ange Postecoglou’s side ran riot at Hearts on Wednesday evening. Running out 5-1 winners in Edinburgh, the Spurs right-back was to have a major say on the game following his second-half introduction.
Naming a very strong starting XI for the opening 45 minutes at Tynecastle Park, the Australian was to change all 11 starters at the interval as players such as Lucas Bergvall, Mikey Moore and Spence were introduced. Having led 1-0 at the break courtesy of Brennan Johnson, Spurs soon found themselves back on level terms after Lawrence Shankland capitalised on some poor play from the visitors when they were trying to play the ball out from the back.
Potentially a moment in the contest that would see Hearts seize control of the game and go on to win against a very youthful Tottenham team, it was instead the Lilywhites who turned it on and netted a further four goals. It was academy ace Will Lankshear who put Spurs back in front with a smart finish in the box on 55 minutes.
The chance all came from some excellent play from Spence as he drove towards the edge of the box before slipping in a wonderful pass that was converted in style by the young striker. Doing his job at the back and also more than helping Tottenham out in attack with some impressive runs, the ex-Genoa loanee was to get his name on the scoresheet 17 minutes later after tapping home Timo Werner’s low cross from point-blank range.
It was exactly what his performance deserved and he wasn’t too far off registering another assist with time running out. Spence swung in such an inviting cross from the right across the face of goal but fellow substitute Alejo Veliz just couldn’t keep his effort down.
Very much a forgotten man at Tottenham after only making six senior appearances for the club and spending the past 18 months away from N17 on loan, supporters were purring about Spence come the full-time whistle after his standout display. It was undoubtedly his finest in a Tottenham shirt.
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What comes next for the 23-year-old remains to be seen. Not in Postecoglou’s thinking last season and training with the club’s Under-21s prior to his Genoa loan switch in January after his surprise return from Leeds United, the writing looked to be on the wall for the player this summer.
However, he was named in the Tottenham squad for the trip to Edinburgh when players such as Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil, who have been heavily tipped to depart before the summer deadline, were not. So could Spence actually save his Tottenham career and become part of Postecoglou’s plans going forward?
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That may all become clear over the next week as Spurs face QPR in a friendly on Saturday before departing for their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea. Whether or not the right-back is part of the squad for the trip to Asia could be a big indicator as to where his future lies.
One thing for certain is that Tottenham do need cover at right-back with Emerson Royal looking likely to depart this summer amid AC Milan’s interest in him. The Brazilian is unfortunately just not going to get the regular football he wants in north London and it probably is the right time for the club to part with a player who isn’t a natural fit in Postecoglou’s system.
Archie Gray, who excelled on his Tottenham debut at Hearts, is more than capable of providing cover for first-choice right-back Pedro Porro, though, after spending the vast majority of last season as Leeds United’s right-back and subsequently keeping Spence out of the team at times. Spence more than displayed his quality in Scotland on Wednesday evening and now it is up to Postecoglou as to what comes next for the 2022 summer signing.
Speaking about Spence in his post-match press conference after the win, Postecoglou said: “Djed did well. He has had a tough couple of years.
“He is training with us and I think with all of the players they are here with us at the moment and when they are here with us I treat them as Tottenham players unless something suddenly changes. He was good tonight. Took his goal well, he contributed well and got an assist.”
If his long-term future is indeed to be away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spence should certainly not be short of options after an electric performance for Tottenham in the big win at Hearts.
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