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Tottenham need to hit the ground running after the international break

Sam Tabuteau, Sports Reporter

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The extended international break has come as a welcome distraction for Tottenham, given their disastrous start to the season.

Rock bottom of the Premier League table and without a win from their first five league games, the pressure is slowly increasing on Roberto De Zerbi, and he will hope his players have come back re-energised after spending time with their respective countries.

Spurs had 14 first-team players away on international duty, including England U19 international Luca Williams-Barnett, who was recently announced as part of De Zerbi’s first-team squad.

Meanwhile, those not called up by their countries, or who withdrew through injury, were given a week off before returning to training at Hotspur Way.

De Zerbi has bemoaned his side’s lack of fitness this season, so he will no doubt have used the extended break to build his team’s physical robustness as they head into a crucial run of fixtures.

That said, the Italian faces an anxious waiting game to see what condition Spurs’ internationals turn up in as they make their way back to England over the course of this week.

Here, Standard Sport assessed the winners and losers from the international break…

Antonin Kinsky

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Winners

Antonin Kinsky

Made his senior international debut for the Czech Republic as they were beaten 3-1 by Spain. An important milestone for the 23-year-old, even if his side were well beaten by the World Cup holders.

Andy Robertson

The veteran full-back made his 100th appearance for Scotland, captaining Sebastien Pocognoli’s side to a 2-0 win over North Macedonia. Robertson is just the second man to reach 100 appearances for Scotland and is closing in on Kenny Dalglish’s all-time record of 102 caps.

Mathys Tel

Scored a hat-trick as France U21s beat Switzerland 7-1 to take his tally for the international break to five goals. Also came off the bench to score the winning goal as France beat Luxembourg 3-2 to seal their spot at the European Under-21 Championship finals next summer.

Luca Williams-Barnett

Played a starring role for England’s U19s, scoring in back-to-back games against Norway and the USA. Featured in all four of the Young Lions’ games and received plenty of plaudits for his sublime long-range goal against Norway.

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Omar Marmoush

Scored a brace as Egypt ran out 5-0 winners in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan. De Zerbi will hope Marmoush’s first goals of the season can provide a much-needed confidence boost.

Mateus Fernandes

Captained Portugal’s U21s to qualification for the European Under-21 Championship finals, assisting Goncalo Oliveira from a corner as they beat Gibraltar 4-0.

Mohammed Kudus

Despite turning down a call-up to play for Ghana, Kudus is arguably the biggest winner from the international break after choosing to focus on his rehabilitation from a serious quad injury.

Kudus could feasibly have played over the international break but did not want to risk suffering a setback and instead chose to work with Spurs’ medical team to ensure he is back to his best.

Yang Min-hyeok

Despite later having to apologise for his comments post-match, Yang grabbed the winning assist as South Korea won Asian Games gold against Japan.

Micky van de Ven

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Losers

Micky van de Ven

Will need to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s trip to Manchester United after his hand was stepped on in the closing stages of the Netherlands’ final fixture of the international break, a 2-1 win over Serbia.

The Tottenham captain is expected to be fit, but the innocuous injury potentially leaves De Zerbi with another selection headache.

Jan Paul van Hecke

Returned to Spurs early after suffering a foot injury in the Netherlands’ first game against Serbia. Van Hecke completed the 90 minutes but saw the issue flare up in an open training session the following day.

It is unclear how severe the injury is and whether Van Hecke will be fit to face United this weekend.

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Able-bodied men in South Korea must serve between 18-21 months of military service before the age of 28. However, government exemptions are granted to gold medalists at the Asian Games and all Olympic medalists.

Former Spurs forward Son Heung-min earned exemption after he guided South Korea to Asian Games gold in 2018, and Yang, who is on loan at Belgian side Westerlo, appeared to suggest that the “real reward” for winning gold was military exemption.

Speaking after South Korea’s victory over Japan, Yang is reported to have said, in quotes from The Korea Times, that the main motivation for him and his team-mates was to avoid military service.

“We were being compensated, and the compensation was military exemption, so it feels like we played with that one thing in mind. Honestly, whether it was a trophy or a medal wasn't important,” Yang said.

Yang’s comments, which were echoed by captain Lee Gi-hyuk and defender Park Seung-soo, drew criticism, and the 20-year-old took to social media to apologise with a lengthy statement.

"Hello, this is Yang Min-hyeok. I am sincerely sorry for causing disappointment and discomfort to so many people with my remarks regarding the Asian Games," Yang wrote. "Participating in the Asian Games as a representative of South Korea held great significance for me, and as an athlete, I naturally gave my all with the goal of winning the championship and the gold medal.

"However, I failed to properly convey that the military service exemption was merely one of several motivators—alongside the desire to achieve great results—that drove me forward. Regardless of my original intent, it is clearly my fault that my words caused discomfort and made it appear as though I took the significance of the gold medal lightly as a national team athlete.

"I recognise that the gold medal was not something simply guaranteed; it was an achievement made possible only through the hard work and support of many people. Furthermore, I never intended to belittle or mock the efforts of those currently fulfilling their military service obligations or those who will do so in the future.

"I sincerely apologise to everyone who was hurt or disappointed by my thoughtless remarks. Moving forward, I will strive to make amends not only through my words but by demonstrating a better attitude and a greater sense of responsibility on the field. My sincere apologies."

Spurs fans increasingly fear that next great striker may have left the club

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Sam Tabuteau, Sports Reporter

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Troy Parrott continued his excellent start to the season with the opening goal in the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Israel on Sunday.

The Real Betis forward, who drew adulation for his sublime solo goal against Austria last week, has not had a straightforward journey to the top but is now beginning to prove that he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Robbie Keane and John Aldridge as Ireland’s leading man.

Parrott came through the ranks at Tottenham, was handed his senior debut by Mauricio Pochettino, and later his Premier League debut under Jose Mourinho.

Phenomenal form: Troy Parrott has been sensational for the Republic of Ireland

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Opportunities, though, were few and far between. Parrott eventually left England for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2024 in an effort to take ownership of a career that had slowly begun to drift after a succession of unsuccessful loan spells in the lower tiers.

Parrott bet big on his ability, and it paid off as he scored 51 goals in 97 appearances for AZ before making the move to Real Betis this summer.

The 24-year-old is flourishing, described by Hallgrimsson as having a “special gift” in front of goal, and it has left some Spurs fans wondering if Parrott is the one that got away.

Spurs have struggled - granted, many clubs would - to replace the enormous impact of their record goalscorer and Ballon d’Or favourite Harry Kane since he left for Bayern Munich in 2023.

The England captain, who netted 61 times across all competitions last season, has gone from strength to strength while Spurs have continued to lose goals from their team, with Heung-min Son and 2024/25 top scorer Brennan Johnson also leaving north London.

It is hard to see how Parrott would not make an impact for a Spurs side that has scored just two goals in their opening five league games this season.

However, a return to England was on the cards for Parrott this summer in the form of a proposed move to West Ham. Yet he turned it down, opting instead to test himself in Spain’s top-flight.

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His highlights so far include a late winner against Real Madrid and the goal that sealed Betis’ 3-2 victory over Lille in their first Champions League game for 21 years.

Parrott is clearly enjoying life abroad and will feel vindicated by the fact that fellow Spurs academy strikers Dane Scarlett and Will Lankshear also decided to seek pastures new over the summer.

Hot start: Will Lankshear has already scored eight goals for Middlesbrough this season

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While there will perhaps be a tinge of regret in letting Parrott leave, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and there is no telling whether his sharp penalty-box instincts and off-the-ball movement would have translated to an increasingly physical Premier League.

It is Lankshear’s development that Spurs will be keeping a closer eye on, with the 21-year-old scoring eight goals in 11 appearances across all competitions for Middlesbrough since completing a move in July that could rise as high as £20million.

Noted for his physicality, Lankshear is in the mould of a modern Premier League striker, and Spurs hedged their bets by including matching rights and a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal that took him to the Riverside Stadium.

It is clear that Spurs, while trying to maximise player sales out of their academy, still have one eye on Lankshear and could look to bring him back to the club if he continues in the rich vein of form that has Middlesbrough in contention for promotion to the Premier League.

Parrott may have been the original Kane succession plan, but it is currently Lankshear that looks best placed to step out of the former Spurs captain’s shadow.

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Tottenham look to have avoided a defensive injury crisis despite Micky van de Ven being forced off while playing for the Netherlands.

The Spurs captain left the pitch late on during Sunday night’s 2-1 Nations League Group A2 win over Serbia in Belgrade, having had his left hand accidentally stepped on in painful fashion by Serbian striker Luka Jovic.

Van de Ven initially had two of his fingers strapped up and continued in the game before later departing, leaving the Netherlands to finish the match with 10 men after they had already used all of their allotted substitutions.

It was a worrying sight for Tottenham ahead of Saturday’s Premier League return against fellow strugglers Manchester United at Old Trafford, with head coach Roberto De Zerbi desperately seeking a first top-flight win of the season to lift his side off the foot of the table.

Spurs are already without right-back Pedro Porro due to a hamstring injury that saw him withdraw from the Spain squad at the start of the extended three-week international window, while Jan Paul van Hecke left the Dutch camp early last week due to a foot issue sustained in their first match against Serbia.

However, fears over a serious setback for Van de Ven that would have left De Zerbi without three members of his first-choice back four against United and dealing with a centre-back crisis have now been allayed after a new update from Netherlands boss Xavi.

“He’s ok, he felt dizzy because he suffered with his finger. It’s not a big injury,” the Spaniard said of Van de Ven in his press conference after the win over Serbia.

Van de Ven would have been returning to Tottenham now anyway, with the Netherlands having played all four of their Nations League fixtures during this window.

He will be further assessed by Spurs’ medical staff, who will offer any further treatment if required.

Tottenham also remain without Chelsea loanee Mykhailo Mudryk at present due to an ankle injury suffered last month, while long-term absentees Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are still recovering from ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments sustained last season.

Dejan Kulusevski has not played for the club since May 2025 due to a serious kneecap injury, but has been back in first-team training of late as he builds towards a long-awaited return.

Spurs facing a potential defensive crisis for crunch Manchester United clash

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Tottenham are hoping to welcome a number of injured players back into the fold after the international break as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of the Premier League, though a defensive crisis could be brewing.

A chastening, winless start to the campaign has left Spurs dead last in the table heading into this international break, but they have not been helped by the absence of Pedro Porro and some of his team-mates.

But as Roberto De Zerbi gets set to visit Old Trafford in search of a much-needed three points, he may be able to bring some long-term absentees along for the ride.

With that in mind, here is all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates.

Micky van de Ven was forced off late for the Netherlands in Serbia

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Micky van de Ven

Tottenham suffered a new scare on Sunday night when captain Micky van de Ven was forced off late on during the Netherlands’ Nations League win over Serbia in Belgrade.

The centre-back accidentally had his hand stepped on by Luka Jovic and could not continue, leaving the Netherlands to see out the match with 10 men as they had already used all of their allotted substitutions.

The sight of Van de Ven going off injured will have been hugely concerning for Spurs fans, though Dutch boss Xavi confirmed afterwards that it was not a serious problem.

“He’s ok, he felt dizzy because he suffered with his finger. It’s not a big injury,” Xavi said.

Potential return date: October 10 vs Manchester United (A)

Pedro Porro

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Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro withdrew from Spain’s squad for this international break after picking up a hamstring injury against Aston Villa last month.

The right-back lasted just 19 minutes before being forced off, with reports suggesting he is set for a month on the sidelines.

He has spent the international break working with coaches in Spain as he bids to build his fitness back up.

After three weeks of rest and recuperation, it is hoped he will be able to return before the end of October.

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Potential return date: October 19 vs Coventry (H)

Jan Paul van Hecke

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Jan Paul van Hecke

Jan Paul van Hecke is the newest addition to the injury list after he picked up a foot injury while representing the Netherlands.

He was stamped while facing Serbia but went on to complete 90 minutes. But the injury flared up during an open training session the next day and he subsequently withdrew from the squad.

Xavi explained: “During the match against Serbia, someone stepped on him,” the new Netherlands boss said before the game against Greece.

“He didn’t realise it during the match, but afterwards it was impossible for him to play.

“He really wanted to try, but he was in a lot of pain. That is why we decided to take him off the list.

“He tried to participate in recovery training (on Tuesday). He tried again today, but he couldn’t touch the ball.”

It remains to be seen how severe his injury is or when he might return.

Potential return date: Unknown

Dejan Kulusevski

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Dejan Kulusevski

Swedish forward Dejan Kulusevski is finally closing in on a return to competitive play after spending a full year on the sidelines with a patella injury.

A lengthy recovery has seen him undergo multiple procedures and suffer a variety of setbacks, but he is now back in first-team training and has been since September.

De Zerbi has said the international break will be a good opportunity for him to build his fitness back up, and it is hoped he can return to the pitch in the coming weeks.

Tottenham, though, are being very cautious with him as they look to ease him back into professional play and avoid another reinjury.

Potential return date: October/November

Mykhailo Mudryk

Mykhailo Mudryk made a surprise loan move from Chelsea to Tottenham on Deadline Day, but has been limited to just a single competitive appearance.

He picked up an ankle injury in training in early September which De Zerbi has described as “stupid”. He returned to chelsea to recover, and is expected to spend eight weeks on the sidelines.

That means he will miss this week’s trip to Old Trafford, but could return before the month is out.

Potential return date: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)

Xavi Simons

Xavi Simons is in recovery after undergoing surgery on a ruptured ACL over the summer.

He has stepped up his recovery and is said to be progressing well, but he is not expected to touch the pitch until the new year.

Potential return date: Early 2027

Wilson Odobert

Wilson Odobert has been sidelined since February after undergoing surgery on a ruptured ACL in his left knee.

He is said to be in the latter stages of his recovery process and could return to the pitch as early as November.

Potential return date: Late November

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Transfer news LIVE!

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all continue to work hard on transfer business after the close of the summer window, with January quickly moving into view. Arsenal have been linked with a sensational swoop for Erling Haaland after the bombshell Manchester City verdict, though there are now claims that he is planning a future move to LaLiga instead. However, Arsenal are rumoured to be leading the race for his Norway team-mate Antonio Nusa.

Manchester United could reportedly seek legal action in the JJ Gabriel saga, while they are eyeing Croatia striker Igor Matanovic and have learned the asking price for several targets including Jean-Philippe Mateta and Santiago Beltran. Chelsea are once again being linked with Barcelona’s Jules Kounde as they sit at the front of the queue for Alex Scott after his dazzling first England start, while Liverpool could launch a shock move for Tottenham captain Micky van de Ven and Mexico wonderkid Gilberto Mora.

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Tottenham could beat Barcelona to striker Vangelis Pavlidis, while Harry Kane is on the verge of signing a bumper contract extension with Bayern Munich to end speculation over a potential Premier League return, and Juventus have asked for Liverpool’s Giovanni Leoni. Follow the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below!

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Next five Arsenal deals 'revealed'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly agreed to sign an improved contract, and his backroom staff are also in the process of renewing their deals.

The Spaniard’s current contract is due to expire at the end of this season, though it has been widely reported that he will pen a new long-term extension to keep him at the club until at least 2029.

According to the Athletic, Arteta's backroom staff are also in the process of renewing their deals following last season’s Premier League title win.

The Arsenal manager has developed a core coaching group during his time at the club, which includes assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Gabriel Heinze, first-team coach Miguel Molina, goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana and set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover.

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Joao Pedro explains Chelsea decision

Joao Pedro has taken a rather unusual step to explain why he chose to extend his Chelsea contract.

The Brazilian was a shining light for Chelsea throughout the 2025-26 campaign, scoring 20 goals across all competitions after joining from Brighton in a deal worth £60million.

As such, he has been rewarded with the Chelsea No9 shirt and a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2034.

Joao Pedro says he is excited about the future with the Blues, but has done so by posting on his LinkedIn page, instead of the usual social media platforms such as Instagram or X, formerly Twitter.

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Liverpool set to appoint sporting director for second spell as key signings revealed

Julian Ward is reportedly expected to be appointed Liverpool’s new sporting director, succeeding Richard Hughes.

Hughes stepped down from his role earlier in the month, soon after the summer transfer window had closed with Bradley Barcola the headline signing.

In a statement, Liverpool confirmed: “The process of appointing a successor is under way and the outcome will be confirmed in due course.”

Now, according to the Athletic, the ownership-led process is advancing towards its conclusion with Ward set to return to the club for a second spell as sporting director, having previously held the position during the 2022-23 season.

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'Rashford will leave Man Utd for free'

Former Man United defender Phil Bardsley shares his transfer prediction

He said: "Marcus Rashford obviously had a good year last year at Barca, and obviously it was a bit up in the air over the summer what the outcome was going to be. He's obviously still got twelve months left on his contract.

"I'll probably see him running that contract down and maybe moving on at the end of the season. But, you know, if we're being honest, he's probably been one of our better players in the opening four or five games."

Phil Bardsley was speaking to Lyllo Casino.

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Man Utd scout second JJ Gabriel replacement

Back to the topic of Manchester United seeking a potential replacement for JJ Gabriel, they are reportedly tracking another wonderkid in addition to Mezian Mesloub.

As per the Sun, Man United are also eyeing 15-year-old Valerenga ace Gabriel Rajkovic, and has scouts present in Oslo last Sunday.

Barcelona could provide stern competition having also watched the teenager in action.

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Arsenal told how to fix biggest transfer error

Former England international Jay Bothroyd says Arsenal have made a mistake by not signing Julian Alvarez and has urged the Gunners to go back in for the Argentine in January.

The former Arsenal academy star, who went on to play for Coventry, Blackburn, Charlton and QPR, believes the signing of Viktor Gyokeres has not worked out and the reigning champions should be looking to strengthen up front if they want to retain their title - with the Argentine World Cup winner said to be top of their list.

They were said to hold an interest in bringing him over from Atletico Madrid in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, but no move materialised.

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Estevao issues Xabi Alonso verdict amid Chelsea playing time concerns

Estevao has given his honest reaction to his lack of game time for Chelsea this season.

The 19-year-old showed flashes of brilliance last season in his first campaign at Chelsea, netting a dramatic late winner against Liverpool and scoring a magnificent goal in the 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona.

But he has started none of Chelsea’s first five games of the new Premier League season under Xabi Alonso and was substituted at half-time in the Carabao Cup against Leeds United with Chelsea trailing after Alonso had made a number of changes to his starting lineup.

Estevao missed the World Cup due to injury but is with Brazil ahead of friendlies against Australia (twice) and India, and spoke at a press conference in Brisbane.

Click here for Estevao's comments!

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Tottenham make Icardi decision

Tottenham will not pursue a move to sign Mauro Icardi.

The 33-year-old Argentine striker is available on a free transfer after leaving Galatasaray in the summer.

However, his next destination will not be in England as Football Insider are reporting Spurs have passed up the option to land the former PSG forward.

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Lewis Hall explains decision to snub Manchester United transfer interest

Lewis Hall said it was a no-brainer to snub Manchester United’s transfer interest and extend his stay at Newcastle.

United were said to hold an interest in Hall for much of the summer as they looked to add cover and competition for Luke Shaw at left-back.

Hall did not have his head turned, though, and decided instead to extend his contract with the Magpies until the summer of 2031.

That decision was despite a summer of turmoil at St James’ Park which saw Eddie Howe make the surprise decision to leave the club and Matthias Jaissle installed as his replacement.

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Liverpool move confirmed

Liverpool tried to negotiate a deal with Inter Milan for Aleksandar Stankovic during the summer transfer window.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Liverpool were keen on signing the midfielder and attempted to include Curtis Jones as part of a deal.

Of course, Jones ended up making the switch but Stankovic has stayed put.

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The Spurs academy graduate has continued to go from strength to strength since leaving north London on a permanent basis in 2024, enjoying a prolific stint in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar.

Parrott joined Spanish side Real Betis in a £17.1million transfer over the summer, netting the winning goal both against Real Madrid in LaLiga and on his Champions League debut against Lille in back-to-back matches earlier this month.

The 24-year-old also continues to shine on the international stage with the Republic of Ireland, having scored the remarkable goals that sent his country through to the World Cup play-offs last year - a double against Portugal and the unforgettable hat-trick to down Hungary in the most dramatic fashion.

Parrott continued to add to his growing reputation on Thursday night, when he scored both goals - including an outstanding individual effort that his manager called simply “magical” - in Ireland’s eventful 2-2 Nations League draw with Austria in Dublin.

“I haven’t seen my team score a goal like this. It was absolutely brilliant, individual brilliance, and I want to see it again,” Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson said after the match.

“But yeah, he [Parrott] has been absolutely fantastic for us the last one or two years. He is flying at the moment.”

Hallgrimsson added: “There are not many players who can do what he did, you will probably look at this goal again and again.”

His remarkable form and glittering array of stunning goals has led many Spurs fans to question if they made a mistake in letting him leave for a fee of just £6.7m back in 2024, particularly in the context of their continued struggles in front of goal under Roberto De Zerbi this season and failure to sign an out-and-out striker amid a lavish summer spend in excess of £300m.

Parrott first joined Tottenham from Irish club Belvedere as a teenager in 2017, failing to score in four senior appearances as he was dispatched for multiple loan spells in the EFL at Millwall, Ipswich, MK Dons and Preston, plus in the Netherlands with Excelsior, where he caught the eye of Alkmaar.

However, Betis have now left Tottenham supporters in no doubt whatsoever that they have no plans to cash in on the player any time soon.

Replying to a tweet from Tottenham-based X account ‘The Spurs Web’ that read: ‘Would you take Troy Parrott back at Tottenham?’, alongside footage of his latest Ireland wondergoal, the LaLiga outfit quote-tweeted the message and replied simply: “No”, to the delight of their own fans.

Tottenham youngster Luca Williams-Barnett took another step forward in his development earlier this week when he was included in the club’s first-team squad photo.

Having travelled on the club’s pre-season tour Down Under over the summer, Williams-Barnett is now officially part of Roberto De Zerbi’s first-team squad.

Described by the Spurs boss as “a potential top player”, the electric young winger is pushing for further first-team involvement after making his senior debut under Thomas Frank last season.

De Zerbi has been reluctant to use Spurs’ academy players so far and, surprisingly, left Williams-Barnett at home as his side crashed out of the Carabao Cup away to Liverpool last month.

However, with Spurs struggling for goals and attacking impetus, Williams-Barnett could get his chance as De Zerbi looks for different solutions going forward.

Versatile, direct and with an eye for goal, the 18-year-old looks ready for first-team football, even if De Zerbi is cautious about throwing him into a team that currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table.

“It is a different job to manage the young, young player, especially when this young player is a potential top player, because you can’t put them in the bad condition or bad situation, but also you can’t forget them,” De Zerbi said before the international break.

“I didn’t forget about Luca, like Malachi [Hardy, young defender], but we have to find the right moment.”

De Zerbi has a predicament on his hands. Several key attacking players are still working their way back to full fitness, while opportunities are scarce with Spurs not in Europe and now out of the Carabao Cup.

Dejan Kulusevski is back in training and closing in on a return to action after nearly a year and a half on the sidelines, while Chelsea loanee Mykhailo Mudryk is expected back from an ankle injury in the next three to five weeks.

Williams-Barnett is therefore set to move further down the pecking order, and while the teenager is clearly on De Zerbi’s radar, a loan move could suit all parties when the January transfer window opens.

De Zerbi has been at pains to insist that Spurs’ academy players are not far from his thinking, but ultimately the club’s dire league position means he is reluctant to expose the likes of Williams-Barnett and Hardy.

A first-team promotion is vindication of Williams-Barnett’s progress over the last 12 months. He produced 16 goals and eight assists in 20 appearances for Spurs’ youth teams last season.

The next move is for him to get consistent senior minutes under his belt. But it seems unlikely he will get that at Spurs, given the club’s current plight.

Spurs have struggled to manage the careers of some of their brightest young academy players in recent years. Williams-Barnett, though, is too good to let slip through the net.

Ledley King believes that Micky van de Ven was the right choice to make Tottenham captain despite the club’s struggles this season.

Spurs find themselves rock bottom of the Premier League table and without a win after five games before the international break.

Despite spending more than £300million over the summer, Tottenham have so far failed to push on after securing Premier League survival on the final day of last season.

As well as a full squad overhaul, head coach Roberto De Zerbi also remodelled his leadership group in the summer, naming Van de Ven captain and World Cup winner Pedro Porro vice-captain.

The decision came after Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario left for Atletico Madrid and Juventus, respectively, while Van de Ven and Porro also both received new contracts.

Van de Ven was widely seen as the standout candidate to take the armband following an improved run of performances after De Zerbi took charge with seven games to go last season.

The Dutchman, though, did struggle at times with the responsibility of the captaincy in Romero’s absence, and those question marks remain after a disastrous start to the new campaign.

At 25, Van de Ven is a relatively young captain, but former Spurs skipper King said he sees no issue with De Zerbi’s decision to promote the Netherlands international and believes he is growing into the role.

“I think he's a fantastic player,” King said, speaking at the unveiling of the Hall of Fame installation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“His new role now is to make the players around him better. I think Micky takes care of himself. His ability to recover and put fires out is something we've seen over the last few years. That's an important element for the team.

“So I think the next role is to manage the group and get the best out of the group as a team. He's grown into the role.

“Having seen Micky on the pitch, he leads by example, for sure. I think he was the right choice to be captain.”

King was only 24 when he became Tottenham captain in 2005, leading the club until his retirement in 2012 follow a persistent knee injury.

Having come through the academy, King said he had the benefit of knowing the club inside out, but added it is important that Van de Ven does not change as an individual while trying to bring together a squad low on confidence.

“Just because you've got the armband on, you can't change as an individual,” he said. “It was important for me to be myself. But be a little bit more authoritative in doing that.”

Spurs are bottom of the Premier League despite spending over £300m this summer

Sam Tabuteau, Sports Reporter

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Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has reaffirmed his confidence in Roberto De Zerbi despite the club sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table.

Spurs are winless from their opening five league games this season and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool last month.

After spending in excess of £300million over the summer, De Zerbi’s side have yet to get going, enduring the club’s worst start to a Premier League season after five games.

Despite the promise of a new era, Spurs have shown familiar frailties this season, with injuries piling up and players struggling to adapt after a disrupted pre-season.

Speaking at the Fan Advisory Board meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week, though, Venkatesham insisted he remained confident that De Zerbi will turn things around and added that he had seen signs of improvement since Spurs were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Brentford on the opening weekend.

"Vinai Venkatesham expressed confidence in Roberto De Zerbi, in the players brought in and in the changes made, noting the considerable work underway behind the scenes," the recently published minutes stated.

Vinai Venkatesham is Tottenham’s CEO

PA

"The club had made significant changes over the summer, both on and off the pitch, and recognised that these might take time to take full effect. Venkatesham was encouraged by aspects of the underlying performances since the opening day defeat but acknowledged the disappointment at the current points total even at this early point in the season and recognised the frustration this caused supporters following the previous campaign.

"Supporter backing, home and away, had been excellent and was not taken for granted. He acknowledged that the club must earn supporters’ belief through results."

Spurs underwent a substantial squad overhaul during the summer, bringing in 10 new signings and allowing key first-team players Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario and Djed Spence to depart.

The scale of turnover at the club has inevitably led to a period of adaptation, but Venkatesham insists that despite Spurs’ struggles on the pitch, the squad has been strengthened.

"The window had involved approximately 35 first-team transactions (incomings, outgoings and renewals). The squad had been strengthened with a focus on quality, character and physical robustness, combining Premier League experience with younger players able to develop with the club,” the minutes continued.

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"The contract renewals of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro reflected the belief of two senior players in the club’s direction. The objective remained a squad able to compete at the level supporters expect."

Given Spurs’ summer spending and the fact the club has not made a profit since 2019, Venkatesham admits there is greater stress on ensuring they remain in line with the Premier League and UEFA’s profit and sustainability rules.

Under pressure: Roberto De Zerbi

AFP/Getty

He adds that it is therefore important to maximise revenue from the club’s stadium if the club is to eventually re-establish itself in European competition.

"Venkatesham explained that financial regulation represented a genuine constraint. The club had not recorded a profit since 2019, and its costs were rising through investment in the men’s team in wages and transfer fees.

"He noted that successive 17th-place finishes and the absence of European revenue this season had also affected the club's revenue position.

"The club monitored itself against the Premier League rules (squad cost of up to 85% of revenue). The UEFA rules are more restrictive - 70% of squad cost, together with a three-year profitability test - and remained relevant to the club's ambition of returning to European competition.

"Venkatesham said that growing commercial income, including through concerts and other stadium events, was therefore important in creating additional capacity for football investment within the applicable financial rules. He reiterated that football remained the club's clear priority."

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