Plymouth Argyle manager Ian Foster has been quite impressed with Alfie Devine over the last few weeks, revealing that the on-loan Tottenham man is able to quickly grasp the tactical requirements of different roles.
Devine set League One alight with his enterprising play for Port Vale in the first half of the season, prompting Tottenham to cut short his spell at Vale Park last month and send him to Plymouth instead.
However, the 19-year-old has not had the sort of electric start he would have hoped for at the Championship side, having operated in multiple roles so far.
The teenager himself admitted last week that he has been disappointed with some of his performances but revealed that he is getting more comfortable in his new surroundings with each passing day (Plymouth Live).
Alfie Devine is impressing at Plymouth Argyle
Forster has insisted that he is quite pleased with the effort and application that the midfielder has shown since joining the Pilgrims.
He told PlymouthLive: “Alfie’s performances have been very good, with and without the ball. He has got a really good tactical brain, a really clear understanding of what we are asking him to do and how to do it, and he applies himself brilliantly.”
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The Plymouth boss explained that he expects the on-loan Tottenham man to have more impact on matches as his teammates get used to playing with him.
Foster added: “It’s getting used to each other and people will really start to understand his qualities, how he can receive the ball in between the lines on the half turn and be positive.
“He’s a lovely footballer. I have worked an awful lot with Alfie, I know what he’s capable of and we are starting to see it now. Today (against Leeds), he was quieter, probably because of the level of the opposition so you get less time on the ball.”
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It is to be expected that Devine would take some time to get adjusted to the Championship, having never played at this level before in his career. We all know just how talented the 19-year-old is and I would not be surprised if he is dictating matches by the end of the season.
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