Jamie Donley’s loan to Stoke has not gone to plan.
Tottenham had a very busy summer window, as expected, with several youth stars moving out on loan in search of regular football.
Will Lankshear joined Oxford, Mikey Moore joined Rangers, and Donley joined Championship side Stoke on a season-long loan.
After an impressive campaign with Leyton Orient, Tottenham had high hopes for Donley, hence his move up the English pyramid.
However, his move has certainly not gone to plan, and he may return to North London within a few weeks.
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Tottenham need to recall Donley
Donley scored eight goals and registered 11 assists for Orient last season, showcasing the undeniable quality he has.
However, since moving to Stoke, the 20-year-old has played just 77 minutes of Championship football, making just four appearances in the league.
Despite his lack of gametime, Donley has still been able to register an assist.
His last appearance for the Potters was in their 2-0 defeat to Millwall, where he was brought on as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
At 20 years old, he needs to be playing regular football, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that he is not going to get that at Stoke.
If his development isn’t going to be stunted, Tottenham simply have to recall Donley in January and reassess their options with the youngster.
Mark Robins’ comments on Donley now seem silly
Anyone who has watched Donley will be fully aware of the fact that he is more than capable of thriving in the Championship.
That sentiment was even echoed by Mark Robins, the manager of Stoke, when his loan arrival was announced.
“He’s bright, and he’s great to have,” Robin said at the start of the season.
“I’m delighted we’ve got him, and he’ll be a big player for us. He’ll get better and better over time.”
However, those comments now hold little to no value given the fact that Robins has, for whatever reason, refused to hand him time on the pitch.
If this continues, it will have a major impact on his development, and Tottenham cannot allow that to happen.