Luca Williams-Barnett is now freed from his shackles at Tottenham after Thomas Frank’s sacking.
The youngster featured on the bench in Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Newcastle that ultimately got Frank sacked, as he can now look forward to an improved chance of game time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The attacker has been impressing at Hotspur Way this season, and his performances have earned him a place in multiple senior matchday squads.
However, Williams-Barnett has so far been limited to just one appearance this term, which came in the Lilywhites’ 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Doncaster Rovers in September.
Now with Frank gone, the 17-year-old has more than one reason as to why he will play more games from now until the end of the campaign.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Tottenham switch is about to open the door for Luca Williams-Barnett
Frank had a rigid playstyle and didn’t seem to be getting the best out of the players that he had at his dispossal.
The ex-Brentford boss started with a 4-3-3 formation against Newcastle, and a switch to an inevitable 4-2-3-1 will surely benefit Williams-Barnett.
Xavi Simons has been playing on the left wing, which is Williams-Barnett’s natural position, and if the Dutchman moves centrally, it will open up space for the Tottenham youth gem to play.
Especially considering that Wilson Odobert is now injured.
Williams-Barnett has netted seven times in all competitions for Tottenham‘s U21s this season.
Not only that, but he has netted an additional seven goals for Spurs’ U19s side in the UEFA Youth League, and a further two in the U18s Premier League, which brings his tally for the season up to 16.
Why Tottenham’s possible interim manager move will benefit Williams-Barnett
Tottenham could be set to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, where they will then decide on Frank’s permanent successor.
The Lilywhites could turn to Ryan Mason or Johnny Heitinga, but any interim appointment would be good news for Williams-Barnett.
That’s because, historically, youth players can be unearthed more often under short-term head coaches who don’t have as much responsibility on their shoulders as someone like Frank would have.
As far as Williams-Barnett’s case goes, he’s quite simply done everything he can to impress at Hotspur Way, and is demanding a shot at first-team action after recent displays.