Wayne Rooney has admitted that he feels sorry for Conor Gallagher after watching him make his Tottenham debut against West Ham United.
Tottenham signed Gallagher for £36 million from Atletico Madrid as they beat off competition from Aston Villa to sign him.
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The midfielder was brought straight into the Tottenham team by Thomas Frank for the London derby defeat to West Ham United.
Spurs suffered a shock defeat against the Premier League’s 18th-place team on an afternoon which proved rather tricky for Gallagher.
Wayne Rooney on Conor Gallagher’s Tottenham debut
Wayne Rooney thought Conor Gallagher looked like he ‘hadn’t been on a football pitch before’ during his Tottenham Hotspur debut.
The 25-year-old was given a baptism of fire at Spurs as he was thrown into a team which is facing a great deal of scrutiny right now.
Gallagher had a tough Tottenham debut, losing possession on 14 occasions against the Hammers as he struggled to stamp his authority on the game.
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Speaking about his debut, the former Premier League striker said, told The Wayne Rooney Show: “I watched the Villa game in the first half. I couldn’t believe how there was no fight, there was no energy, there was nothing about Tottenham.
“It was the same yesterday against West Ham, and I think we all know what a big game that is for both clubs. There was nothing about Tottenham at all.
“I felt for Conor Gallagher because I was trying to put myself in his head, and I was thinking he was just running around.
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“He looked like he hadn’t been on a football pitch before, and I was thinking he’s probably thinking ‘What have I come into here’.”
Following the defeat, the manager is now under pressure at Spurs, with the North London club considering their options.
However, Frank is expected to remain in charge against Borussia Dortmund in what could be a rather toxic atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Gallagher will already be looking at the situation he has walked into at Spurs and perhaps regretting his decision to sign.
Archie Gray on Conor Gallagher signing for Tottenham
Archie Gray has admitted that he is delighted that Gallagher has signed for Tottenham, giving him the chance to play alongside a fellow Englishman.
The midfielder is also excited by the prospect of learning from the 25-year-old, given his experience at the top level.