Dane Scarlett has admitted he is proud to have signed a new contract at Tottenham and is looking forward to continuing working alongside star forwards Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.
Scarlett is rated as one of the club’s top academy prospects and on Wednesday was confirmed to have signed a new deal with Spurs, keeping him at the club until 2026.
The 18-year-old has spent plenty of time training with the first team over the last couple of seasons but the club could now explore the possibility of sending him out on loan next season to gain more experience (Football London).
Reflecting on signing fresh terms with Spurs, Scarlett said via the club’s official Twitter account: “I’m really proud and I’m excited to see what holds in the future.
“It’s something I’ve been working towards this year and now it’s happened, I’m just happy to be here and still enjoying my football. As long as I’m still focused and keep working hard then everything will plan out for me.”
Scarlett’s progression into the senior side has also seen him train alongside Kane and Son, who scored 40 of Tottenham’s 69 goals in the Premier League this season (BBC).
He said: “They’re amazing, both of them. You can see the link on the pitch and obviously that stems from training. They’re very top and good people to be around.
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“I think it’s amazing that I have this opportunity to be working with these kinds of names and people.”
The England youth also hailed the influence of Antonio Conte, who led Spurs on a resurgent run to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while highlighting how fortunate he is to be working under the Italian’s guidance.
Scarlett said: “He’s very good. Obviously, the training sessions that he does are very beneficial to the attacking players. It’s good to be around this early and understand the way he plays.
“It’s amazing, the opportunities keep coming and I just keep taking them, but I’m just proud and focused on my football really.”
It has now been more than 18 months since Scarlett made his debut for Spurs which came in the Europa League, where he became the club’s youngest ever first team player (GOAL).
But he believes the time spent in the company of the senior side has developed him both mentally and physically to the point where he wants to continue working hard to earn his place on the pitch.
He added: “I think I’ve obviously got a bit bigger and stronger [since my debut] and I think I’m mentally stronger and understand more now. [I understand] what it takes to really break through into the first team.
“It’s definitely a big step but this is something that I’ve wanted to do. Training makes you good in games so that’s how I think of it. If I keep training hard and working hard, when I get my chance on the pitch I’ll be able to do well.”
On his hopes for the future, he added: “Just to continue working hard and focusing on my game and hopefully I get more opportunities to play.
“It means everything to me at this point. This is what I’ve been working for my whole life so to now be in this position, it’s just amazing.”
Spurs Web Opinion
This is fantastic news for Scarlett who is thought to be rated very highly by those at Tottenham, so it’s great to see him tied down for the long-term.
He has been exposed to the first-team environment for so long now and he is still at such a young age which should be highly beneficial for him going forward.
A loan move next season does seem to be a good move as it will give him more opportunities to play, but the club needs to find a good place for him so that can happen.
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