Jamie Donley has recently featured in a new position and he has used the advice given to him by one of his former Tottenham Hotspur teammates to adapt to the role.
For Jamie Donley, this season cannot move fast enough. The Tottenham Hotspur youngster was sent out on loan to Stoke City in the summer, but he has only made six appearances across all competitons for the Potters.
However, the international break provided Donley with a rare opportunity to impress. The Northern Ireland international slotted home a penalty during their 1-0 victory over Luxembourg on Monday night, having earlier scored a goal which was deemed to be offside.
It was Donley’s first start in Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign, and he made the most of it, with his manager, Michael O’Neill, naming him as the best player on the pitch.
Jamie Donley reveals the advice he received from Harry Kane
One of the biggest talking points of Northern Ireland’s victory was not just that Donley scored, but the position he took up on the pitch. Donley usually plays as an attacking midfielder, but he started as a centre forward on Monday.
The ex-Leyton Orient loannee will have to learn to adapt to the role, but he will do so with the advice instilled in him by Harry Kane, when the pair were both at Spurs.
He told Football London: “That’s probably why I like to try and drop deep because I’m trying to do what he [Kane] does.
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“He helped me a lot when he was around just with different types of advice and stuff. So, yes, it’s good to learn from the best.”
“Michael always speaks to me about playing me as a striker. He can see me playing there, and he kind of just said to take my opportunity. Luckily, I scored.
“Normally, I’m behind the striker but with this, it’s more about running behind more and stretching the game. I can add that to my game, definitely.
“Personally, I don’t think it was a huge call,” Donley said of the positional change. “Michael was on to me for a couple of years about coming over.
“I just think it was right for me and my career at that moment. I’m delighted with how young the group is and how well we’re performing at the minute. I think I’ve definitely made the right decision.”
Donley is being wasted at Stoke City
It makes little sense that Donley is being afforded a good number of minutes for his country, yet he sits on the bench each week in the Championship.
The Antrim-born player has shown how versatile he can be and he did well in League One last season. Tottenham must look to recall him in January and find him a club who will give him the playing time he needs to build on his Northern Ireland displays.