Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained why Luca Williams‑Barnett has not featured much for the Spurs first team.
Tottenham Hotspur have not had the sort of start to the 26/27 season they would have hoped for, given their struggles on the pitch.
So far this campaign, Spurs have won just one match, which came against Championship opposition Charlton Athletic in round two of the Carabao Cup.
Meanwhile, against Premier League opposition, Spurs have yet to taste victory, drawing two and losing two of their opening four games.
Roberto De Zerbi explains limited Luca Williams‑Barnett involvement at Tottenham
Roberto De Zerbi has now opened up on how Tottenham’s poor form has affected youngster Luca Williams‑Barnett.
The teenager has featured just once for Spurs this season, coming off the bench in Tottenham’s 5-1 thrashing of Charlton Athletic. However, ever since that cameo, Williams‑Barnett has not been involved with the senior first team.
De Zerbi has now explained why. He told football.london: “Yes, I have a big consideration because he is a good player and a potential big player.
“We have to understand when is the best situation for him and the team also. It is a different job to manage a young player, especially when they have the potential to be a top player.
“You cannot put them in a bad condition but you also cannot forget about them. I did not forget about Luca and I did not forget about Malachi [Hardy] but it is about the right moment.”
Spurs must be patient with Williams‑Barnett’s development
Spurs Web expected Luca Williams‑Barnett to have been involved in Spurs’ last Carabao Cup outing against Liverpool after he was left out of a U21 EFL Trophy match, but that was not the case.
The teenager did not even make the bench against the Reds, who rotated their squad and gave game time to many of their youngsters.
Tottenham, however, are not exactly in the position to do that given their struggles so far this season.
With Spurs now out of the League Cup, Williams‑Barnett has the FA Cup and Premier League as opportunities to earn game time with the senior squad.
The youngster, however, continues to play for the U21 side and was named in their eleven on Tuesday when Tottenham took on Liverpool.