Spurs ‘insider’ backs academy starlet for increased first-team role under Conte

Tottenham ‘insider’ John Wenham, has backed Harvey White to get minutes under his belt for the first team over the coming months (Football Insider).

White has been in exceptional form for Tottenham’s Under-23s this campaign, with five goals and six assists in 17 matches so far (Transfermarkt).

The Evening Standard revealed on their live transfer blog (Dec 31, 13:30) on transfer deadline day that White was subject to interest from a whole host of lower league clubs.

The likes of Hull City, Sunderland, Portsmouth and Luton Town were said to be keen on signing the central midfielder on a loan deal until the end of the season.

However, Dan Kilpatrick later revealed that Conte had blocked White from leaving after Spurs offloaded Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli.

Wenham has now suggested that while a loan move might have been ideal for White’s development, the youngster could now get a few cameos off the bench to prove his worth to Conte.

He told Football Insider: “We have lost a few players who would usually make up the bench. The likes of Bryan Gil and Alli.

“That’s why this potential loan move for White didn’t happen. It is frustrating for his personal development that he won’t be out there playing week in week out.

“But you never know when opportunities may arise. He could make five to seven to 10-minute cameos in the Premier League before the end of the season.

“That increases his value and keeps him training with the first-team squad. He could stay or maybe secure himself a full-season Championship loan like Oliver Skipp did last season.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The fact that Conte has decided to let Dele, Ndombele and Lo Celso leave without bringing in a number 8, suggests that the Italian is likely to stick to a 3-4-3 rather than deploying a 3-5-2.

So, White is unlikely to get more than a couple of cameos off the bench over the coming months. I suspect Conte wanted to hold on to the 20-year-old as an emergency fallback option in case there is an injury crisis in midfield.

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