The former Leeds United youngster is now playing for a direct relegation rivals in Spurs.
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Leeds United academy graduate Archie Gray’s versatility looks set to be tested with a stint at centre-back when Tottenham Hotspur face Liverpool on Sunday.
Gray has already played in three different positions under new manager Igor Tudor, who himself has only been in charge for four games - losing all of them. The Croatian manager has stuck rigidly to a back-three formation despite seemingly endless injury issues, often forcing square pegs into round holes.
With Micky van de Ven suspended for Sunday’s trip to Anfield while Christian Romero and Joao Palhinha both suffered midweek concussions, Spurs have just two natural centre-backs. And the likelihood is Gray will take on a fourth new role under Tudor alongside Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso.
“That's the problem,” Tudor said of Gray. “He needs to, every game, change the position, tomorrow again. Four games here, four positions for Archie Gray. He's an amazing player, but that's been that.
“Something's wrong. Beautiful guy, beautiful player. I didn't know him before so much, so from inside, he has my big respect.”
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Despite the regular change of role, Gray has impressed under Tudor in a period where few others can say the same. The Leeds academy graduate, who turned 20 this week, has been a rare shining light in North London for a team two points shy of his boyhood club and in serious relegation trouble.
Spurs boss on recent struggles
Spurs have conceded 14 goals during Tudor’s four-match reign and have a propensity to implode, conceding four goals inside 22 minutes at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. There is already serious pressure on the firefighter manager, with reports this week suggesting work is already being done on a potential replacement.
“Like everything in life, you can choose how to see the situation,” Tudor added. “So, you can stay and cry or you can fight. You can be the victim or you can say I can change something. This is the message I want to start and what I told to the players.
“The bottle is always half empty or half full. Here there is nothing full, there is a lot of empty things but difficult moments don’t last forever. In the last period, a lot of things about what is the club, the problems, no one can do nothing and this like victim-ism, like we were victims.
“I said this morning to the players totally opposition things. We are the team and we are the staff. It’s all about us. All the bulls***, all the other things are bulls*** and sorry to use this word, but it’s on us.”
Spurs go to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, by which time they could be in the bottom three. Although that would require West Ham Nottingham Forest to both win against Manchester City and Fulham, respectively. Leeds will have their own chance to pull clear of Gray’s side, with a two-point gap becoming five if they win at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday.