Michael Dawson believes one starlet is beginning to make a real impact for Tottenham Hotspur, pointing to the teenager’s growing influence on the pitch.
Archie Gray grabbed his first goal of the season in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend.
The 19-year-old was impressive throughout the game, putting in a shift in the pivot role during the opening hour before he was then moved to the number ten position when Lucas Bergvall was taken off injured.
A youngster who has been deployed out of position for much of his Tottenham career is now being used in his preferred deeper midfield role and is making the most of his chances.
Michael Dawson on Archie Grey’s future at Tottenham
Reflecting on Gray’s performance and the importance of regular minutes for young players, Michael Dawson highlighted how confidence and consistency are shaping the midfielder’s development.
Speaking about Gray, Dawson told Sky Sports: “What you need as a young kid, you have got to remember Archie Gray is very, very young.
“You know, to get his first goal, you see the smile on his face, there is no better feeling to score. You listen to his interview after and you know he does not score too many, but he is getting a consistent run of games and I think that is what players need.
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“And we are certainly seeing that and he is certainly making the difference at this moment in time. Match-winner yesterday. Could have been better, gave too many opportunities for my liking against Palace.
“As I have said, the most important thing for Thomas Frank and that group of Tottenham players is winning football matches, getting belief and moving on to the next one.
“We are in an industry where performances are all well and good week in, week out. Obviously, you are playing well and you need to see good performances because you are going to get better results, but yesterday, away from home, it was a well ground-out result and a big three points for Thomas and the team.”
What the Palace win means for Spurs
The victory against Palace was a welcome one as it helped Thomas Frank’s side end their run of two consecutive league defeats.
This should boost the confidence of several players as they head into the new year, where consistency will be key for Tottenham if they are to break into the top five this season.