Tottenham’s Alfie Devine now faces a big challenge on loan at Plymouth

Alfie Devine has been spending more time on the bench than he has on the pitch for Plymouth Argyle of late, and the Spurs youngster will be hoping to turn things around sooner rather than later.

Having joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the first half of the season, Alfie Devine was flourishing with regular football. He registered three goals and three assists in 26 appearances for Port Vale (Transfermarkt).

The decision was then made in the New Year to recall Devine from that loan spell and Spurs swiftly sent him to Championship side Plymouth Argyle, where he would join up with fellow Lilywhites youngster, Ashley Phillips.

Devine has made eight appearances and has two assists for Plymouth, but has admitted himself that he was disappointed with his early form for the club. However, he recently earned praise from the Argyle manager, Ian Foster, for the way he has adapted to the tactical system at the club.

The youngster has not featured as much recently, with Foster explaining that he was simply giving Devine (and Phillips) a rest.

Should we be worried about Alfie Devine?

Since then, Devine has remained on the bench, playing just nine minutes against Ipswich Town at the weekend, and not even getting on the pitch against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. And a report from Football.London suggests this will be a concern for the 19-year-old.

The report says “Things have not quite gone [Devine]’s way of late,” and it is suggested that Plymouth’s “tough run of games [are] perhaps working against him.”

However, it is stressed that this is Devine’s “first taste” of the Championship and that very few players of his age would “hit their stride” in this division immediately. There is also the matter of Devine playing a slightly new position while on loan.

That said, Darko Gyabi didn’t have the best of games in the week, and Devine may well find this can “open up the door” for him to return to the lineup for the next game. Regardless, Devine now has a “challenge on his hands” if he is to assert himself in the squad and finish the season strong.

It is thought a “big end to the campaign is very much required” for Devine before he returns to Tottenham in the summer, especially given the fact fellow young talent Lucas Bergvall will be joining Spurs and competing for a similar position in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

Spurs Web Opinion

I don’t think we should be concerned about Devine’s gametime, and it’s all part of a valuable lesson for him anyway. He will get more opportunities before the end of the season, and we all know he is capable of making the most of that chance when he gets it.

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