Tottenham recall 'quality' midfielder form loan ahead of Brentford clash

Stoke City had signed Jamie Donley on loan last summer but the temporary Championship stay has not worked out for the player.

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Tottenham Hotspur prepare to take on Brentford in Premier League action on New Year’s Day but footballing attention remains off the field with the transfer window now open.

Thomas Frank is expected to be backed by the Spurs board to invest in new signings after an inconsistent start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Marquee arrivals may be confirmed in the coming weeks but the club’s first piece of business is a loan recall.

Spurs confirmed on Thursday that midfielder Jamie Donley had been brought back from his loan spell at Championship side Stoke City. The 20-year-old had joined the club in August following a successful loan at Leyton Orient last season.

Tottenham Hotspur confirm Jamie Donley loan recall

Donley has not featured for the Potters in the Championship since the end of October. The midfielder has made four appearances for the Spurs first team, all cameos during the 2023/24 campaign.

A club statement read: “Tottenham have recalled midfielder Jamie Donley from his loan spell at Championship side Stoke City. The 20-year-old joined the Potters on 6 August and made an immediate impact, registering an assist on his debut in their 3-1 opening-day win over Derby County three days later.

“Donley departs Stoke having made six substitute appearances – four in the league and two in the Carabao Cup. He made his Northern Ireland debut in March and scored his first international goal in November's win over Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying.”

Donley had scored eight goals and picked up 11 assists for Leyton Orient last season as the League One outfit made it to the play-off final but has struggled to make an impact in the Championship. During pre-season, it had been touted that Donley could make an impression in the first team under Frank.

Prior to his loan at Stoke City, transfer specialist Graeme Bailey said: “There are a few youngsters who I think they will look at. The one youngster I am hearing at Tottenham to keep an eye on is Jamie Donley.

“Although he was on late, I think there is a real feeling amongst some at Spurs that he could really make a step up next season. Do not rule out him being involved in Frank’s first-team squad next season. Everyone thinks he is going out on loan, and he probably will, but I am being told do not rule out Donley getting a look, especially in pre-season. If he does well, there might be an opportunity for him.”

Donley hailed as ‘quality’ by Northern Ireland boss

Despite Tottenham Hotspur recalling the player, it’s not expected that Donley is a player who Frank will reintegrate back into the first team. Football League World claim that League One side Bolton Wanderers could look at making a loan move for the midfielder.

After scoring for Northern Ireland in the win over Luxembourg in November, manager Michael O’Neill praised the Spurs star. He said: “Jamie’s a real player, real quality. I wanted to see him as a nine. There’s no secret the nine is a problem position for us and I think Jamie has different attributes from some of the other strikers.

“I thought he did really well in the game. He’s clever, his link-up play is good. He took the penalty well and you saw the finish for the goal that was disallowed. Ethan was offside, but you saw the quality that Jamie displayed in that moment.”

In other news, Medical booked: Tottenham agree club-record deal with Crystal Palace for first January signing.