Daily Mail

Spurs have opted for a homegrown talent over their £12.5million winter arrival

Three stars - including the league phase's 'worst performer - have been left out

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Tottenham have included only two of their three January signings in their updated Europa League squad ahead of the knockout stages.

Spurs booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a fourth-place finish in the league phase, bypassing the play-off round in a reprieve for their fixture schedule.

The club have now provided their updated selection which will be valid all the way to the final in Bilbao on May 21 - but were only allowed to make a maximum of three additions, as per UEFA's rules.

Having made a trio of notable senior acquisitions during the winter window, there was a possibility that all three would be integrated into Spurs' Europa League plans for the second half of the campaign.

However, Ange Postecoglou has opted to leave one of his new signings out of the squad, favouring the addition of a homegrown talent.

Czech goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky has been omitted from the squad, despite being an ever-present fixture in the side since his £12.5m arrival from Slavia Prague at the beginning of the year.

Postecoglou left out the 21-year-old in favour of regular number one Guglielmo Vicario, who is expected to return from a long-term injury in the coming weeks.

Brandon Austin, who earned just his second club appearance in the 3-2 win over Hoffenheim during the league phase, has been chosen as Vicario's backup.

Meanwhile, Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel are both included in the squad following their respective winter moves from RC Lens and Bayern Munich.

Both made their debuts in Spurs' miserable midweek trip to Liverpool, where the Reds ran riot to come out 4-0 victors in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Djed Spence has also earned his place in the updated selection - pipping Kinsky to the third and final spot - with his versatility this term proving invaluable to Postecoglou amid the club's seemingly unrelenting injury crisis.

The update in selection has forced Postecoglou to snub three of his stars for the remainder continental campaign.

Fraser Forster, Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin will no longer be involved for this season's Europa League, with the latter having recorded the worst average rating of any player throughout the competition's league phase, as per Sofascore.

Spurs are waiting to discover their opponents for the last 16 and could face any of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland, depending on who progresses through the play-offs.

Postecoglou's side will find out their opponents when the Europa League draw is made on February 21.

The Tottenham manager will need January signings Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso to start on the front foot and fast amid the club's unravelling injury crisis

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Tottenham summoned a flourish as the winter market closed. Two players signed in the final 48-hour frenzy, initially on loan but with Ange Postecoglou promising both are there for the long term.

One, Mathys Tel, is a teenage wonderkid from France, a quick and versatile forward compared inevitably to Kylian Mbappe and courted by several other Premier League clubs as he sought a move out of Bayern Munich.

The other, Kevin Danso, is an international centre back coming into his prime years, older, more experienced and stress-tested in the top tiers of three countries, including one underwhelming season at Southampton.

They will both be plunged into a squad defending a one-goal lead at Liverpool on Thursday in the Carabao Cup semi-final, with Spurs on a crusade to win a major trophy for the first time since 2008 and Postecoglou trying to save a season which has flirted with disaster.

The cups promise salvation, especially the Europa League with its golden ticket to the Champions League, but first the Carabao Cup and a glimpse of the reinforcements — Danso hijacked from Wolves to fill the void left by Radu Dragusin’s serious knee injury and Tel sweet-talked into the move by Postecoglou after it seemed to have gone awry.

‘I felt like if I kept him on the phone for long enough, I would wear him down and he was falling asleep by the end,’ said the Spurs boss, weaving his dry, self-deprecatory wit together with more serious factors about establishing a positive connection with Tel during their two hours of dialogue and respecting his right to take his time and weigh up his options.

Tel is a rare talent, used to gushing praise since an early age, and yet those who have seen him in Munich speak of a popular, intelligent and friendly young man with an exemplary attitude.

‘I have never known a player not scoring or even playing in every match who has been so loved by the fans,’ said Julien Wolff, of Die Welt, who has reported on Bayern since 2011.

‘He is a cool guy, very hungry with a lot of potential and is a good signing for Spurs. But he has to play, he has to get his minutes. When he first signed, Julian Nagelsmann was the coach of Bayern and said Mathys will score 40 goals in the Bundesliga and he didn’t do it.

‘Some people say it was a tactical problem, others that he didn’t have the chance and that he needs to play to find the rhythm and flow.’

Tottenham are banking on the latter. They have him on loan until the end of the season, but are confident the terms of the deal mean he will join permanently in the summer, with the fees combining to an outlay of about £53million.

‘I didn’t bring him here for six months,” said Postecoglou when asked if he expected to have him at the club next season. ‘He will be a Tottenham player.’

Spurs seem pleased with themselves, a feeling reinforced by a rare outing by technical director Johan Lange on the club’s media channel.

‘A fantastic talent,’ was his verdict on Tel. ‘He is in a very unique group of players who at a young age have already played a lot of football at a very high level, with around 60 games for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and 15 or 16 in the Champions League at 19.

‘He is a versatile attacking player who has the X-factor, he will bring excitement to the stadium. He’s a player we can’t wait to set free and wish to have many fantastic experiences together.’

Tel will compete for a place across the front three while Danso arrives to ease the crisis at the back, intensified by Dragusin’s cruciate knee ligament injury and worrying fitness updates on Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Van de Ven returned from three months of hamstring trouble last week against Elfsborg, but Postecoglou is concerned by data readings from that game and in training and wants to ease him back out of the team until he is sure the risk of another relapse has passed.

The same goes for Romero, who had been close to a return but now is not.

Danso, signed from Lens on a £20m deal which will become permanent in the summer, provides instant help to Postecoglou rather than potential to develop over time, like so many other recent signings.

He is 26, an Austria international who grew up in Milton Keynes and started out in the academy at MK Dons.

‘Kevin was very tall and physical when he came to us,’ recalls Jon Dewick, who coached him in the club’s Under-11 group.

‘He wanted to play up front, he loved running and scoring goals, and we were always trying to play him at centre back because he was strong and we wanted to improve his technicalities in that area.’

Danso joined Augsburg in Germany on a scholarship and made his Bundesliga debut in March 2017. A year on loan at Southampton in 2019/20 was not a great success.

Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl used him initially at left back, but Saints had a difficult start to the season. Danso was sent off against Manchester United and Hasenhuttl settled into a back three without him, although he did come on at half-time in the 9-0 hammering by Leicester.

He only appeared once more in the Premier League in a season interrupted by the pandemic, his last game coming in an FA Cup tie with Spurs in January 2020.

He returns into the heat of Anfield with Postecoglou hoping his late January signings have the desired effect.

Chelsea having agreed terms with two Premier League clubs over a loan for Disasi

Disasi is keen on a move to Villa, but unlikely Joao Felix will join him on the move

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Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is leaning towards joining Aston Villa on loan over Tottenham as the winter transfer deadline nears.

Disasi has fallen out of favour under Blues boss Enzo Maresca, who has transformed the Blues since taking charge in the summer.

The French defender has been limited to only six appearances in the Premier League this term, with the vast majority of his minutes coming in the Europa Conference League.

Chelsea have been open to loan offers for the 26-year-old this month and have agreed terms with both Villa and fierce London rivals Tottenham over a move.

It is understood that Disasi is opting to join the Villains instead of Ange Postecoglou's side, who are languishing in 16th in the Premier League table.

Disasi broke through in France while playing for Paris FC and Reims, before earning continental attention during his time at AS Monaco.

He became a staple of their defence alongside Benoit Badiashile, who would also later go on to join Chelsea.

After making 129 appearances for the French giants, the Blues came calling in August 2023, shelling out a reported fee of £38.5million for him.

He has gone on to play 61 times for Chelsea but has seen his playtime dwindle over recent times, becoming prone to errors at the back.

A loan move to Villa will likely suit both parties, with Unai Emery's side in need of defensive reinforcements following the sale of Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce.

Aston Villa are also closing in on the loan signing of winger Marco Asensio, having agreed a deal with PSG for the Spaniard.

However, this attacking arrival means that a Villa loan move for Chelsea's Joao Felix is now deemed unlikely.

Felix has failed to live up to his £45m price-tag since signing last summer, only scoring one goal in 12 appearances for the club this term.

Tottenham ended a seven-game winless run by beating Brentford on Sunday

Vitaly Janelt scored an own goal before Pape Matar Sarr netted at the right end

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Before this game, Tottenham had won twice in the Premier League since the back end of November. Those two victories had been wrapped up by margins of 5-0 – at Southampton – and 4-0 at Manchester City. Not so much wins as sporting suffocations.

This was not like that at all. But this was undoubtedly more important, more necessary and as such much more precious. Ange Postecoglou’s team can put sides away by big numbers. They can get on the front foot and play exciting, liberating football.

But during Postecoglou’s year and a half at Tottenham, there hasn’t been enough of what we saw here on a winter’s day in west London. Because it’s days like this that ultimately keep managers in jobs. Days like this that show that teams are much more than froth and sweetness, that show they possess an ability just to stand firm and win a game of football when they really need to.

Tottenham were short of numbers once again at the Gtech Stadium. New defensive signing Kevin Danso isn’t yet registered to play in defence while Micky van de Ven, fit again, was held back for Thursday’s big Carabao Cup game at Liverpool.

So danger stalked Tottenham. Thomas Frank’s Brentford team are a handful on their own patch. They fear nobody and they score goals. And as we perhaps expected, they held sway in terms of possession and territory for long periods.

But Tottenham didn’t budge. They didn’t yield. There was little sign of what we all refer to as Angeball here. No ferocious front foot press. No high defensive line. Angeball may not be dead but it was definitely having a lie down somewhere in a dark room.

In its place was some pragmatic common sense football and Tottenham were all the better for it. Postecoglou’s team played with a shape and an organisation and sense of commonality that saw them hang on to a lead handed to them by Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janet in the first half, survive something of a second half onslaught and then break to score beautifully through Pape Sarr with two minutes to go.

Brentford will probably feel a little hard done by. They asked most of the questions and had they got a bit luckier with the bounce of the ball, one or two of the many crosses they pumped in to the Spurs penalty area may have led to a goal. Indeed had they scored when they were particularly dominant at the start of the second half then this story could eventually have been written to a different script.

But this is what good teams do away from home in the Premier League. They do what it takes to win.

With Van de Ven not risked, Tottenham’s defence looked thin once again. But Brentford had their own problems with young goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson starting his first Premier League game for the club in place of the injured Mark Flekken.

That subsequently proved important but early on the home team preyed persistently on Tottenham’s obvious weakness as a succession of quality deliveries were swung across the face of the Spurs goal. There were to be 20 such deliveries in the first hour of play.

In the main Spurs centre halves Arche Gray and Ben Davies dealt with it all well while Djed Spence was excellent up against the dangerous Bryan Mbuemo. When required, meanwhile, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was happy to come and punch. Yoane Wissa still headed over twice from half chances.

Tottenham tried to play with a little more structure, building attacks through the middle, often through the strong running of Dejan Kulusevski. On occasion, they looked like breaking through. Kulusevski shot low across goal in the 6th minute where Richarlison couldn’t quite convert on the stretch. Then Kulusevski turned and saw an effort blocked.

When the opening goal arrived, however, it was fortuitous. Just after Mbuemo had turned Spence to drive a shot at Kinsky, Tottenham broke for Yves Bissouma to have a shot deflected over.

Driving the ball straight in to the sun, Heung-Min Son aimed for the near post where the inswing panicked Valdimarsson and his defenders. They were not really under pressure but still Janelt turned his back and the ball bounced off him and into the net.

It was a mess but Spurs didn’t care. And it had been a super delivery from the Tottenham skipper.

Brentford’s response was strong and constructive. Christian Norgaard brought a two-handed parry from Kinsky with a sharp volley and then Richarlison stood firm to head away a Mbuemo strike that appeared to be flying in just before half-time.

Into the second period and the Brentford threat grew. The problem of the dropping sun was now Tottenham keeper Kinsky’s. Often, as Brentford came forward, Kinsky had a hand up to protect his eyes. Why not a baseball cap? Strange.

There were certainly some scares as Brentford sought a way back. Kinsky pawed one low delivery away at the far post and was helpless in the 53rd minute as Wissa reacted well to Kevin Schade’s flick to half volley a chance against the crossbar and over from seven yards.

Tottenham’s forays up field were increasingly rare though they still carried a threat. Kulusevski hit the side netting while half-time substitute Lucas Bergvall pulled a left foot shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

There was always a feeling that one Brentford goal may breed another. But it didn’t come and with two minutes left Son broke from deep and released substitute Sarr perfectly through the inside left position.

Maybe Valdimarsson didn’t have to come quite so far from goal but that’s a trifling point. Sarr’s finish, poking the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs, was fabulous and it secured Tottenham their victory.

‘We are staying up,’ sang the Tottenham fans. Whether it was done so in parody is hard to say. This win has, in truth, given them valuable breathing space at the bottom end of the table.

MATCH FACTS & PLAYER RATINGS

BRENTFORD: (4-2-3-1): Valdimarsson 5; Ajer 6 (Kayode 76mins 6), Collins 6, Van Den Berg 6.5, Lewis-Potter 6; Norgaard 6.5 (Carvalho 84mins 6), Janelt 5.5 (Jensen 66mins 6); Mbuemo 7, Damsgaard 6.5, Schade 6; Wissa 6

SUBS NOT USED: Yarmoliuk, Pinnock, Maghoma, Konak, Mee, Eyestone

GOALS: none

BOOKED: none

MANAGER: Thomas Frank: 6

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: (4-2-3-1): Kinsky 7; Porro 6, Gray 6.5, Davies 6.5, Spence 7.5; Bissouma 6 (Sarr 68mins 6), Bentancur 6; Moore 5.5 (Bergvall 45mins 5.5), Kulusevski 6, Son 6; Richarlison 5.5 (Scarlett 77mins 6)

SUBS NOT USED: Reguilon, Ajayi, Hardy, Olusesi, Cassanova, Austin

GOALS: Janelt og 29, Sarr 88

BOOKED: Son

MANAGER: Ange Postecoglou: 7

REFEREE: Jarred Gillet 6

ATTENDANCE: 17,154

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has apologised for making a 'stupid comment' about Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou after his side's 1-0 defeat against Stockport on Saturday.

When asked during a post-match interview whether injuries had contributed to the loss, Wellens said: 'I'm not Ange Postecoglou, keep using it as an excuse.'

Spurs have endured a nightmare campaign in the Premier League, slipping to 16th in the table after 13 defeats from 23 matches.

Postecoglou has been forced to chop and change his side frequently over the course of the season so far, hit with injuries to several key defenders including Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.

The Australian is currently also without the likes of James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson in attack ahead of Sunday's trip to Brentford.

Wellens has since apologised for his remark about Postecoglou, admitting he is 'deeply embarrassed' by it.

'After today's game, I was asked about the injuries within our squad and, without thinking, I made a stupid comment about Tottenham Hotspur,' he said.

'That comment was brought to my attention later in the evening and, having watched my interview back, I am deeply embarrassed and regret what I said.

'At Leyton Orient we have a strong relationship with Tottenham Hotspur and it was never my intention to say anything that would jeopardise that.

'Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, is a world-class coach and I want to apologise for my comments and wish Spurs all the very best for the second half of the season.'

Spurs, who have a close relationship with Orient, sent academy stars Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley to the League One club for a season-long loan at the start of the campaign.

Former Tottenham captain Harry Kane also completed a loan spell there early in his career, while Spurs women regularly play their home games at Orient's Brisbane Road.

I don't recognise Daniel Levy as the ogre or tyrant he's portrayed as from the chairman I knew when I was at Spurs.

Our first conversation came when I turned down Spurs to join Charlton. I explained my worries over not being able to communicate with his manager, Jacques Santini. Levy was disappointed but he was a good listener.

I joined Spurs 18 months later, which showed he didn't bear a grudge. And when I left (my form suffered after my dad fell ill and passed away), he granted me a free transfer with a year left on my contract. By the club not asking for a fee, it increased my options, which was important to me given the strain I'd been under. It was a kind gesture.

I don't think the anti-Levy banner '24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy' will affect him.

The truth is, they have also reached four finals, including the Champions League, and finished Premier League runners-up. Having said that, I understand the frustration of Spurs fans — the club should not be near the drop zone of the table going to Brentford on Sunday.

Pinning the blame on Levy is ridiculous. If the manager Ange Postecoglou had been more pragmatic during Spurs' injury crisis, the chairman would not be getting so much flak.

But there is one change Levy should make and that is to his transfer strategy. His policy has been to buy potential, paying fees for the likes of Archie Gray (£40million) and Lucas Bergvall (£8.5m), hoping they will increase in value.

Spurs need to sprinkle their team with stardust to compete at the elite level and that means breaking their wage structure to recruit world-class players who are at their peak today.

Victor Osimhen is an example. He is 26 and would have made an immediate impact, even on loan from Napoli. Levy would have winced at the wage demands and so the Nigerian striker is now on loan at Galatasaray.

Spurs pay significant transfer fees but that's misleading. Liverpool don't spend as much on players as Manchester United or Chelsea, but their top earners will be on a par with any other Premier League club. Manchester City swooped for Eintracht Frankfurt's Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush to get them out of a hole. I'd wager his salary is bigger than anyone's salary at Spurs.

Levy isn't ambitious is a claim I've heard made about him, but hiring Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte showed how much he wants to grace Tottenham's fantastic stadium with trophies.

I'd argue instead that his ambition has been misplaced. Instead of pushing the boat out for a couple of established stars, he's paid too much on middle-tier players. Brennan Johnson and Richarlison are two examples — neither were cheap, but neither will turn your team into title contenders.

Paying big wages is the secret to landing world-class players. Even out of the Champions League, Spurs are based in London and should be able to attract better players than those they have.

The last time Spurs came close to winning a trophy, reaching the Carabao Cup final in 2021, Levy sacked Mourinho shortly before they faced Manchester City at Wembley. It was bizarre decision, and I can only think that Mourinho's outbursts had become too much for him.

I don't see a repeat with Postecoglou. Regardless of the result at Brentford, I think Postecoglou will lead Spurs into Thursday's Carabao semi-final second leg at Liverpool and stay for the final if Tottenham make it.

Whatever grumps Postecoglou has had this season, he has always come across as respectful to the club owners and grateful for the opportunity to be manager. The Levy I know is a reasonable man and I believe he recognises that.

Whereas Mourinho was a king in his own eyes, Postecoglou appreciates he is part of the club with responsibilities.

However, Spurs fans must be careful what they wish for. Despite this season's results, if Levy finds a couple of world-class players at their peak and pays them the going rate to help the club's youngsters, they should be challenging at the right end of the table next season. In that sense, reports that Bayern teenager Mathys Tel has rejected a £50million move may be a blessing in disguise.

Spurs had agreed a deal with Bayern to sign Tel, but he has rejected the move

Ange Postecoglou's side could now go back into the market to sign a forward

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Bayern Munich starlet Mathys Tel has rejected a move to Tottenham, after Ange Postecoglou's side were linked with a move for the striker.

Spurs had reached a £50million agreement with Bayern over the player, leaving talks between Tel and his agent as the final hurdle to get a deal over the line.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was reportedly in Bavaria to 'accelerate talks' for the France international, keen to push forward as other Premier League outfits breathed down their necks.

Tel has a number of offers on the table and it was thought that playing time would be key to his decision, with his decision to call it quits at Bayern coming after falling out of favour under Vincent Kompany.

That is something that Tottenham could have provided as their squad continues to be blighted by injuries. Dominic Solanke is out for six weeks, while Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are also currently sidelined.

But, with personal terms the final hurdle to get the transfer over the line, Tel has rejected the move in the latest blow to Tottenham.

The decision comes after Spurs' technical director Johan Lange was understood to have travelled to Munich on Wednesday to watch Tel play for Bayern in their Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava, where he opened negotiations.

Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester United are also in dialogue with the player, who will still likely leave Bayern in the coming days.

Tel has been a Bayern player since August 2022 when he arrived from Rennes for £25m.

He has scored 16 goals in his first 83 appearances for the Bundesliga giants but has spent a lot of time on the bench.

Tottenham briefly spoke about signing Tel back in the summer of 2023 when they sold Harry Kane to Bayern.

'I usually find out at the tail end of this stuff what's going on,' manager Postecoglou when asked about Tel. 'We're exploring some opportunities in the last couple of days of the window to see what we can do.

'But nothing's across my desk yet.'

He also revealed that his side may go into the transfer market to sign a defender after Radu Dragusin was the latest player to suffer an injury in their Europa League clash with Elfsborg on Thursday.

Tottenham hold an interest in Chelsea defender Axel Disasi as an alternative to Fikayo Tomori in their efforts to sign a new centre back ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Spurs are in talks with AC Milan over a swoop for Tomori, but it is unclear whether the England defender is ready to leave Italy for a move to Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The former Chelsea centre back was in talks to join Juventus and also has interest from Aston Villa. Milan want around £25m but Tottenham may offer an initial loan.

And Mail Sport understands Disasi is one of Tottenham’s options if a move for Tomori proves unsuccessful.

Chelsea are ready to sanction an exit for Disasi in the coming days, and there is significant interest in the 26-year-old central defender from a number of Premier League clubs.

Wolves and Aston Villa are among the clubs to hold an interest in Disasi heading into the final hours of the window.

Spurs fear centre back Radu Dragusin will miss a large chunk of the season with an injury suffered in midweek.

As a result, they have made a deal for a new centre back a priority.

Man United are prepared to sell Alejandro Garnacho before the window closes

Tottenham's £50million move for Bayern winger Mathys Tel collapsed on Friday

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Tottenham have made an enquiry for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho after missing out on Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

United have been willing to sell for around £60million amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli.

It is unclear whether Garnacho would consider the move to Tottenham at this stage.

Spurs' initial enquiry around the Argentine winger was around a loan deal, and the north London outfit have a long-standing, strong interest in Garnacho, though talks have still to progress.

Spurs' late move for the Argentine winger comes just hours after a move for Bayern winger Tel broke down. The north Londoners had reached a £50m agreement with Bayern over the player, leaving talks between Tel and his agent as the final hurdle to get a deal over the line.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was reportedly in Bavaria to 'accelerate talks' for the France international, keen to push forward as other Premier League outfits breathed down their necks.

Tel has a number of offers on the table and it was thought that playing time would be key to his decision, with his decision to call it quits at Bayern coming after falling out of favour under Vincent Kompany.

That is something that Tottenham could have provided as their squad continues to be blighted by injuries. Dominic Solanke is out for six weeks, while Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are also currently sidelined.

But, with personal terms the final hurdle to get the transfer over the line, Tel rejected the move in the latest blow to Tottenham.

Garnacho, meanwhile, has continued to put in positive performances for United despite being on the chopping block this month. The 20-year-old made an impact off the bench in United's 2-0 win over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday night.

In total he has made 121 appearances for United since making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2022.

Mail Sport reported last Thursday that Chelsea were putting forward a formal offer for Garnacho and that the Stamford Bridge outfit had a clear run at signing him, with Napoli switching their attention to Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi.

Napoli had earlier failed with multiple offers for Garnacho, despite offering up to £50million. Meanwhile, Chelsea made their opening enquiries earlier this month, to which United responded by slapping a £65m price tag on the former Atletico Madrid starlet.

Garnacho's agents Carlos Cambeiro and Quique de Lucas were spotted at Chelsea's game against Wolves on last Monday. They are believed to be open to the idea of their client moving to London.

Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore scored their first goals for Spurs

A 3-0 win over Elfsborg saw Tottenham finish fourth in the Europa League table

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On a day when Tottenham tried to spend £50million on a French teenager from Bayern Munich their Europa League progress was secured by three goals from a trio of young homegrown forwards.

First Dane Scarlett, who came off the bench and soothed Spurs nerves with the game's opening goal in the 70th minute, then Damola Ajayi thumped in a glorious second on his debut before Mikey Moore gave the night a flourish with a wonderful solo goal in stoppage time.

For all three of the academy graduates, these goals to sink Elfsborg of Sweden were their first for the club, and their contributions lifted the mood just as the tension threatened to take hold.

'Made in Tottenham,' smiled Ange Postecoglou after victory clinched fourth place in the convoluted league phase of the competition, launching his team straight into the last 16 without the need for a playoff.

'It's brilliant for the club, and I'm sure there will be academy coaches and players won't sleep tonight because they're pretty excited.

'It's a proud moment. That's what academies are for. And our fans can relate to that.

'We're still in a tough spot in the league but that will be hugely enjoyable for everyone, and the fact that three Tottenham lads have scored on a European night.'

He had little to say about the pursuit of Mathys Tel amid reports Tottenham had struck an agreement with Bayern for a £50m deal for a 19-year-old forward also wanted by Manchester United and Chelsea.

'I can't tell you anything about Tel,' said Postecoglou. 'I've been focusing on getting the team prepared. Others are working in the background, and I'm allowing them to get on with it.'

The deadline is on Monday but Sunday's trip to Brentford will be his priority. Form has been so bad in the Premier League with just five points from 11 games, that Postecoglou dared not revel too deeply in the celebrations.

This relieves a little of the pressure, however, by creating some free time for him next month as he nurses more injured players back to fitness.

Micky van de Ven returned and made it through 45 minutes unscathed, after three months of hamstring trouble. Van de Ven came off at half time as planned, replaced by Radu Dragusin, who limped off after twisting his right knee on landing.

Postecoglou admitted it did not look good for Dragusin, but the Spurs boss can be pleased that his bold decision to send on Scarlett to replace the Romanian centre half paid off inside four minutes.

Scarlett, 20, had spent the first half of the season on loan at Oxford United and was recalled when the Championship club made a managerial change and his opportunities dried up.

MATCH FACTS & PLAYER RATINGS

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Austin 6; Porro 6.5, Gray 6, Van de Ven 6 (Dragusin 46min, 6 (SCARLETT 66, 8), Davies 6.5; Sarr 6, Bentancur 6 (Bissouma 46, 6.5), Bergvall 6; Moore 6.5, Richarlison 6 (Ajayi 81), Son 6.5 (Kulusevski 46, 7)

Scorers: Scarlett 70, Ajayi 84, Moore 90+4

Booked: Bergvall

Manager: Ange Postecoglou 6.5

ELFSBORG (3-4-3): Pettersson 7; Holmen 6, Henriksson 6.5 (Holten 86), Yegbe 6; Hedlund 5, Thomasen 6 (Kaib 81), B Zeneli 6, Hult 6.5 (Gudmundsson 86); Rapp 5 (Richtner 81), Abdullai 5.5 (Frick 81), Qasem 5

Booked: None

Manager: Oscar Hiljemark 6

Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria) 6

Attendance: 57,337

The original plan had been to find him another club on loan to continue his development but last night he came to the rescue just as the home crowd were beginning to become frustrated by Elfsborg's resistance.

Now Scarlett is committed to spending the rest of the season at Tottenham. He cannot appear for three different teams in one season but he did not seem to care about that last night.

He had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he wriggled free in the penalty area and got on the end of a fine inswinging cross from Dejan Kulusevki and powered a header down past goalkeeper Isak Petterson.

Scarlett added an assist for a brilliant second scored by 19-year-old Ajayi, who came on for Richarlison, and scored a goal to remember, picking up the pass on the run across the edge of the penalty and finishing low with his left foot.

Postecoglou threw both arms into the air. Moore, the latest jewel of the Spurs academy, scored in stoppage time, another terrific solo goal, winning the ball in a tackle, carrying it forward and finding the net with what proved to be the last kick of the game.

At 17 years and 172 days, it made him England's youngest goalscorer in major European competition, breaking a record set by Jimmy Greaves in 1957.

'The goal will give him confidence,' said the Spurs boss. 'Mikey has been good for us in this tournament. He's 17 and if he keeps developing, he's got all the attributes to be an outstanding talent. There's a lot of work to do but he will remember tonight which is great.'

Elfsborg came out of cold storage. The Swedish season ended in November and does not start again until March. They hung in for 70 minutes but were overwhelmed in the end and defeat sent them out of the competition.

For Tottenham, those last 20 minutes brought welcome relief from their midwinter struggles and made it a night to remember.