Football FanCast

It wasn't quite Gareth Bale against Inter Milan, although Archie Gray's midweek Champions League performance felt like the latest breakout display by a young Tottenham Hotspur talent.

The all-action midfielder was a joy to watch up against an experienced Atletico Madrid side, with his stellar showing acknowledged by a certain Marcos Llorente, who made a beeline for the 20-year-old amid his exit from the stage.

There's no greater praise than that of a rival, with Gray finally being allowed the chance to blossom in his favoured midfield role, after so long plugging gaps and holes defensively under both Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou.

Once the golden boy of Leeds United, the Englishman looks like the shining light in a struggling Spurs side. Hopefully, there's plenty more to come, both from Gray and from within Tottenham's academy structure.

The next young talents to look out for at Spurs

Wednesday night may have seen the likes of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero welcomed back into the fold, although it was a night that belonged to Igor Tudor's youthful core, with Gray, Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons all coming to the party in that deserved 3-2 win.

The Lilywhites' continued list of absentees also allowed 19-year-old Callum Olesusi another opportunity off the bench, with the teenager putting in an assured display in that cameo.

The promising playmaker has been a regular fixture in the matchday squad in recent weeks, as too has James Rowswell, with the 19-year-old defender notably scoring three goals in ten U21 Premier League games this season.

Hopes are also high for January arrival, James Wilson, with the ex-Hearts striker having already scored eight goals in 45 senior games back in Edinburgh, while since making his way onto the bench under Tudor.

Heading into next season too, Spurs will be able to welcome back a raft of youngsters who are currently shining out on loan, with Luka Vuskovic and Mikey Moore the notable success stories of 2025/26, amid their stints at Hamburg and Rangers, respectively.

Plenty of reason for excitement then, although arguably Spurs' biggest talent is still waiting for his proper chance at senior level.

Spurs are brewing an even bigger talent than Archie Gray

The records tumbled in midweek, with Gray becoming the fourth-youngest Englishman to register an assist in a Champions League knockout game, while also edging Dele Alli by starting the most Champions League games by a Spurs player before the age of 21 (seven).

If anyone of the current Tottenham ranks is to better such statistics in the years to come, you'd certainly hang your hat on it being 17-year-old, Luca Williams-Barnett.

Now, the promising teenager - who is currently sidelined with injury - has actually only made a solitary first-team appearance to date, making a three-minute cameo in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.

A second opportunity hasn't followed since then, although the England youth star has been included in senior matchday squads this season, with another appearance surely in the reckoning.

Indeed, his record at youth level, be it from a left-wing berth or as a number ten, is seriously impressive, with Williams-Barnett netting 23 goals in 28 U18 Premier League games, as well as a further six in just ten Premier League 2 appearances.

Across all competitions in 2025/26 alone, the young diamond has scored 16 goals and contributed eight assists, rubberstamping why analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson has described him as "one of England's best talents at youth level".

In the view of Mattinson too, there will be something of a north London battle in the future between Williams-Barnett and Arsenal's 16-year-old sensation, Max Dowman, a further indication of the type of talent Spurs have on their hands.

Dowman, a scorer against Everton last weekend, looks like England's next golden boy on current evidence, but the Tottenham starlet could enter the conversation soon enough, be it before the end of the season or next term.

Gray - alongside Tel and Simons - could be the driving force behind survival at N17 in the present, although the next permanent Spurs manager could soon be building his team around Williams-Barnett instead.

Of course, patience and a sense of realism is needed with any player aged just 17, but this is undoubtedly a talent worth getting exciting about. Watch this space.

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira says the Tricky Trees will be without an 'important' player for their relegation six-pointer against Tottenham.

Forest set for vital relegation showdown against Spurs

For Forest, Sunday is not just another Premier League game.

It is the kind of game that can define a season — and possibly a club's future in the top flight. Travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, beat the side directly above you in the table, and suddenly Forest are out of the bottom three on goal difference with eight games to play and real momentum behind them.

Lose, and the gap stretches to four points and the psychological damage could be considerable.

Pereira has made his priorities absolutely clear. When Forest travelled to Denmark to face FC Midtjylland in the Europa League second leg on Thursday — needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit — the Portuguese manager made nine changes to his starting lineup.

Not because he does not care about Europe. He clearly does, and the result — progression to the quarter-finals against FC Porto — showed his squad's depth.

But the message he sent to his players was unmistakable: Sunday is what matters most.

Forest go into the game with every reason to believe they can get a result.

They beat Spurs 3-0 at the City Ground in December, their third consecutive league win over their hosts, and Pereira's side have shown across the course of this season that they are capable of grinding out results when the stakes are highest.

Their 0-0 draw with Fulham last time out was not a performance to shout about, even if they were pretty unlucky, but it kept a clean sheet and kept them in touch.

One point below Spurs, one place below Spurs — this is as close to a cup final as the Premier League gets outside of an actual cup final.

Spurs, for their own part, carry different momentum.

The draw at Anfield and the 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid this week have lifted the mood considerably under Igor Tudor. They have not won a Premier League game since December 28, but the performances have improved and the belief appears to be returning.

Tudor could have Richarlison, Joao Palhinha and Dominic Solanke available again after various absences, while James Maddison could return before the end of the campaign.

However, Pereira has a problem of his own heading into the game.

Jair Cunha set to miss Tottenham clash with Nottingham Forest injury

Indeed, centre-back Jair Cunha will not be available.

The Forest manager confirmed this at his pre-match press conference — and the uncertainty around his return adds another layer of concern for a defence that needs to be at its most organised.

"No, Jair has an injury," Pereira said when asked about the defender's availability.

"I don't know exactly how long he will stay out, but he is recovering and doing treatment. We will see what will happen, because he is important for us."

The final sentence is the one that matters most.

Cunha has indeed become an important figure in Forest's backline for Pereira, and losing him for a game of this magnitude is far from ideal.

Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo are expected to fill the central defensive roles, but their organisational partnership will be tested by a Spurs attack that looked sharp and purposeful against Atlético.

Tottenham have been given a boost ahead of their vital Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Sunday's home game against Forest was already the most significant fixture of Tottenham's season before this afternoon.

One point separates the two sides in the Premier League table, with Spurs in 16th and Forest directly below them in 17th. Win and Tudor's side open up a four-point cushion on their visitors, heading into the international break with real breathing room.

Lose and Forest leapfrog them, the gap narrows, and the mood around N17 darkens again after the lift provided by the draw at Anfield and Wednesday's spirited 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid.

Tudor will have plenty of options available — Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Joao Palhinha all back in contention, Cristian Romero leading the defence, Xavi Simons providing the attacking spark.

The squad looks better than it has done at any point during the Croatian's brief tenure, and the timing of the break immediately after Sunday's fixture means whoever is picked will be fresh and rested for the run-in.

James Maddison can also feature before the end of 2025/2026, as confirmed by Tudor today.

But the day took a significant turn late on Friday afternoon.

Sharp-eyed supporters had already noticed something unusual earlier in the morning — Guglielmo Vicario was absent from the Italy squad announced for this month's international fixtures.

The 29-year-old has been Italy's regular second-choice keeper for the best part of two years, and his omission from a squad gathering for crucial World Cup play-off ties raised immediate questions.

Italy face Northern Ireland on March 26, with the winner going on to meet either Wales or Bosnia in a one-legged final on March 31. Not a window you would voluntarily miss.

Hours later, Tottenham confirmed the reason.

The club released a statement confirming that Vicario will undergo surgery on a hernia next week — a procedure timed, they said, "to have as minimal impact on our season as possible."

He is expected to return to action within a month, which given Spurs do not play again after Sunday until April 11, limits the number of games he will miss.

Antonin Kinsky, who missed the Czech Republic's own World Cup play-off squad, will remain at the club over the break and is primed to step in.

Guglielmo Vicario set to play against Forest despite Tottenham announcement

What makes this story genuinely remarkable, though, is what Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge revealed shortly after — the full picture of what Vicario has been putting himself through in recent weeks.

"We can also reveal that Vicario will be involved on Sunday," Bridge said on Sky Sports.

"He's been playing through the pain barrier, with this hernia, but we do understand he will feature for Spurs."

To clarify, Vicario will play against Forest, and then undergo surgery the next day.

That is an extraordinary act of commitment from a player who has gone about his business at Tottenham this season with minimal fuss and maximum professionalism.

While the chaos has swirled around him — Tudor arriving, the injury list growing, the Kinsky calamity in Madrid — Vicario has quietly kept showing up.

The fact he has been doing all of that with a hernia that required surgery puts an entirely different frame on it.

The sharks were circling a week ago, with under-fire Tottenham Hotspur boss Igor Tudor looking set for a swift exit, following his side's disastrous display at the Metropolitano.

Football is a fickle and ever-changing game, however, with the mood having been lifted at N17 following a positive few days, not least after Wednesday's second-leg clash with Atletico Madrid.

Spurs' young core of Archie Gray, Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons all came to the fore, the latter man netting twice to secure a first win under the Tudor regime.

Provided the Lilywhites do beat the drop, there is something there to build around heading into next season, with those who didn't feature in midweek perhaps now fearing for their long-term futures in north London.

What Atleti display could mean for Spurs' absentees

One swallow doesn't make a summer, although on the evidence of Simons' stellar performance, that number ten role is now his to lose for the foreseeable.

At times shifted to the left or right flank, the 22-year-old looks like a different player through the middle, ensuring it will be a tough ask for James Maddison to regain his place when the Englishman does return from injury.

Ahead of Simons too, while Randal Kolo Muani, only on loan at Spurs, doesn't appear a long-term fit, Tudor may view the Frenchman as his go-to pick for the remainder of the campaign, with Dominic Solanke simply proving too unreliable.

Kept out by his latest injury setback, Solanke has only been able to show flashes of his talent to date, including away in Madrid last week, with the 28-year-old yet to prove he can be the heir to Harry Kane's throne in north London.

Elsewhere too, the display of Gray, in particular, could have repercussions for Spurs' pool of midfielders, with the 20-year-old having arguably been his side's best player on Wednesday night.

The man who supplied the assist for Simons' opener, Gray was sublime in that central midfield role, even with Pape Matar Sarr putting in a far more muted display alongside him.

With Tudor settling on that mobile midfield pairing in recent games, and with Lucas Bergvall now back in the frame, it may not bode well for the likes of Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher and others in the longer-term.

£30m Spurs star shouldn't start again after Atleti

The centre of the park has been one area left more depleted than most this season, with the likes of Maddison and Bergvall having been hampered by injury, as too has Rodrigo Bentancur.

Such woes have seen Yves Bissouma brought back in from the cold, although there is a sense that the Malian's race is run in north London, not least with his contract set to expire this summer.

Signed from Brighton and Hove Albion on a £25m deal back in 2022, the 29-year-old has struggled to ever get close to the form he showcased at the Amex, with disciplinary issues also a consistent problem in recent years.

While the former Seagulls star did play 44 times last season, having even started in the Europa League final triumph, he was exiled somewhat under Thomas Frank, having now made just eight appearances this time around - all of which have come in the Premier League.

That lowly status was evident in Bissouma's omission from the club's Champions League squad, ensuring he was again forced to sit out proceedings on Wednesday night.

With the likes of Gray subsequently shining, and with Bergvall and Gallagher also in contention for a start, it's difficult to see a world in which Tudor looks to Bissouma again for the remainder of the season.

Indeed, having been plagued by his own injury issues earlier in the campaign, his return in 2026 has coincided with Spurs' dismal rut under both Frank and Tudor, having not actually won a game he has played in this season.

That record certainly isn't all on the midfielder, but it doesn't make for pretty reading, with there no doubt a sense that Bissouma has now outstayed his welcome at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tudor, or the next permanent manager, has the likes of Gray and Bergvall to build this side around, ensuring the remainder of the season should allow such a partnership to blossom, thus leaving Bissouma shackled to a watching brief.

He may have arrived with such promise almost four years ago, but this isn't a deal that Spurs will look back on fondly.

Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League run may have come to an abrupt end on Wednesday night, although Igor Tudor's men went down fighting, securing a first win under the Croatian against Atletico Madrid.

On a midweek that notably saw the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United ripped apart, Spurs looked like one of the few capable of staging a surprise comeback, having taken the game to Diego Simeone's side right from the off.

Playing with nothing to lose after the car-crash nature of last week's trip to the Spanish capital, the Lilywhites were a joy to watch going forward, with the pieces all starting to come together under the Tudor regime.

The eventual result might well have come in vain, considering the 5-7 aggregate scoreline, but after so much turbulence, there might well be light at the end of the tunnel, rather than an oncoming train.

What Tudor got right in Spurs' win over Atleti

With a raft of injury issues and absentees, with the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Solanke ruled out through suspension and injury, respectively, there was a sense that Tudor's hand was forced somewhat.

That being said, the 47-year-old reaped the rewards of deploying his players in their favoured roles, having taken no significant gambles after experimenting with the likes of Antonin Kinsky and Souza in recent games.

There was a clarity to his selection, with Mathys Tel notably proving a real handful down the left flank, having also supplied the assist for Randal Kolo Muani's earlier header.

Kolo Muani, who completed just a solitary pass amid an anonymous display a week ago, looked far brighter this time around, with that effort on the half hour mark taking him up to four Champions League goals for the season.

The decision, forced or not, to settle on a midfield pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray is also beginning to bear fruit, particularly for the latter, with the Englishman reaping the rewards of operating in his natural home, after chopping and changing so often over the last 18 months.

Defensively too, the usage of a fluid back three or back five worked wonders, allowing Pedro Porro to fly forward down the right flank, supported by the improving Radu Dragusin behind him.

There is then so much to be positive about heading into Sunday's vital clash with Nottingham Forest, with Wednesday also proving a breakthrough night in another sense for the North Londoners.

Spurs star looked like a Bale & Modric hybrid on a breakthrough night

It was almost 16 years ago that Gareth Bale announced himself to the wider world following his breakout display at Inter Milan, the Welsh wing wizard netting a second-half hat-trick to spare Tottenham's blushes after falling 4-0 down at San Siro.

While not quite to that extent, there were parallels with regard to Xavi Simons' performance on Wednesday night, with the Dutchman - alongside Gray - having been immense up against another elite European side.

It's been a mixed start to life in the capital for Spurs' £52m signing, although this was a night where everything clicked into gear, having run the show in his preferred number ten berth.

His efforts, like Bale before him, may have come in vain, yet this was like watching a master at work, having been almost talismanic in the way he curled home to make it 2-1, before earning and converting a penalty in stoppage time.

Time and again, the 22-year-old drifted into pockets of space and weaved his way past a sea of Atleti defenders, notably somewhat unfortunate not to earn a foul in the build-up to Julian Alvarez's second-half equaliser.

The visitors simply couldn't contain him, with Simons notably registering five key passes and successfully completing four of his six attempted dribbles, while winning nine of his 14 total duels.

There was certainly a balletic quality to his game, evoking memories of a certain Luka Modric in his pomp, with the diminutive talent gliding about the pitch and pulling the strings so effortlessly.

You could see that Modric-esque ability on the ball in two key moments, with Simons first producing a lovely sweeping pass at the end of a rapid Tottenham breakaway in the first half, with Tel ultimately denied by Juan Russo at the end of it.

After the break too, there were shades of Modric about Simons' delightful flick to set Porro free inside the penalty area, with Musso again proving the hero after keeping out the Spaniard's outside-the-boot attempt.

Consistency will be the word for the ex-RB Leipzig man now, although this felt like the night - as it was for Bale all those years ago - that everything truly came together in a Tottenham shirt.

Long may it continue.

There's life in this Tottenham Hotspur side yet, and that's the main thing, with Igor Tudor's men putting in a more than creditable display in Wednesday's second-leg clash with Atletico Madrid.

Let's face it, the damage was done inside 17 minutes of the reverse fixture a week ago, yet briefly it looked as if the Lilywhites could stage a surprise comeback this time around, having led on the night following Randal Kolo Muani's well-taken header.

That slim hope of getting back into the tie was ultimately curtailed following Julian Alvarez's equaliser just after the break, with David Hancko again pegging the hosts back after Xavi Simons' thumping effort just before the hour mark.

A late spot-kick for the Dutchman ensured the aggregate scoreline reads far more favourably, and while it ultimately proved in vain, the under-fire Tudor can reflect on a first win in charge in north London.

How Tudor secured a first win in charge at Spurs

The aftermath of last week's crushing defeat saw the pressure mount on the interim Spurs boss, with the Croatian looking set to head for the exit door in the days leading up to the trip to Anfield.

How it can all change, however, with a positive result against Liverpool followed up by the first victory of the Tudor reign on Wednesday night, with the home side having been deserving winners at N17.

In truth, Tudor largely has the aforementioned Simons to thank for that eventual 3-2 scoreline, with the ex-RB Leipzig man having been mesmeric in midfield, pulling the strings time and again for this youthful Tottenham side.

Denied an assist in the first half as Mathys Tel failed to capitalise on Simons' sweeping pass, Spurs' 22-year-old star then lashed home himself after the break to spark renewed hope, prior to winning and converting a stoppage-time penalty.

Had it not been for a blocked Kolo Muani effort at the death, there could have been an even more frantic finale, albeit with Tudor still left to reflect on a job well done, with there now so much to build on heading into the weekend.

Indeed, the deployment of a back three, amid the return of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, worked wonders, while the attacking trio of Kolo Muani, Tel and Simons wreaked havoc all night up against Diego Simeone's men.

As good as Simons was, however, Spurs' star attraction seemingly came from another source...

Spurs' new Dembele was even better than Simons

It is nights like these where the cream truly rises to the top, with Simons producing arguably his finest performance to date since his marquee arrival from Germany.

The same could also be said of the man behind him, Archie Gray, with the Englishman having been immense as an all-action, box-to-box figure in Tudor's midfield.

Almost akin to the great Mousa Dembele in his pomp, Gray was here, there and everywhere, mirroring the Belgian with that ability to simply glide and stride up the pitch, breezing past opponents with ease.

An Atleti midfield that had run riot last week were simply no match for the young Englishman, a point best illustrated with his involvement in Simons' first of the night.

Indeed, the former Leeds United starlet pounced on a loose pass, drove forward with the ball before flicking it into the path of the Netherlands international, showcasing that Dembele-esque knack for turning defence into attack in an instant.

Previously described as a "future Tottenham captain" by Harry Redknapp, this was the latest indication of just why Gray is so highly-rated, with the 20-year-old the type of talent that the next permanent coach should well build around.

Graceful yet combative, Gray notably registered an 88% pass accuracy rate, alongside recovering the ball on nine occasions, having led the charge amid what was a collectively courageous performance from the home side.

Having so long been something of a utility man under both Thomas Frank and Ange Postecologu, after even lining up at centre-back under the latter, Gray is back in his rightful home and looks all the better for it.

As was witnessed with the likes of Dembele or Dele Alli in the recent past, this is a club in which a midfielder can truly blossom, with the England youth star looking like the latest monster in that department.

Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest are now racing to sign a "superstar" Champions League striker, with his club open to a sale.

Spurs eyeing move for striker despite Richarlison impressing

With Tottenham teetering above the relegation zone, very few of their players deserve any credit, but Richarlison has enjoyed a decent campaign on a personal level, picking up nine goals and three assists in 25 Premier League matches.

Most recently, the Brazilian bagged a crucial late equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield, which kept Spurs one point clear of Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, who both collected draws in their own games at the weekend.

Jamie Redknapp was left impressed by the 28-year-old's performance, and suggested he is forming a solid partnership with fellow striker Dominic Solanke. The Sky Sports pundit said: "All game, [Richarlison] was a thorn in their side, Gomez and Van Dijk. He had a bit of physicality.

"Spurs might have fallen on a system here, with two strikers: Richarlison and Solanke. They're a handful; they were powerful. It wasn't pretty, but they had opportunities. It just became uncomfortable for Liverpool. The longer it went on, you thought [Spurs] would get something."

However, Tottenham remain keen on bringing in a new centre-forward this summer, according to a report from Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), which states they are on alert to sign Juventus striker Jonathan David.

There are signs a deal could be possible, with the Italian side now open to sanctioning a departure, but there may be competition for the Canadian's signature, with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United also in the race.

The 26-year-old only signed for the Champions League side last summer, but it appears as though he is already heading for the exit door, and a deal is unlikely to be expensive, given that he arrived at Juventus on a free transfer.

"Superstar" David could excel at Tottenham

Hailed as a "superstar" by Canada teammate Jonathan Osorio, the centre-forward has been a key player for his national side for a number of years, picking up 73 caps and scoring 37 goals.

The Brooklyn-born marksman has also proven himself at the highest level of club football, chipping in with 12 goals and three assists in 27 Champions League matches across stints with Lille and Juventus.

The former Lille man, who doesn't have a weak foot, hasn't hit the ground running in Italy, bagging just five Serie A goals this season, but game time has been limited, with Luciano Spalletti often utilising the Canada international as a substitute or replacing him early.

When David was given a consistent run of games in the Serie A in early 2026, he bagged four goals in five matches, and Tottenham should definitely consider a move this summer, given Solanke's patchy injury record over the past two seasons.

Tottenham Hotspur are approaching kitchen sink time in the battle for survival in the Premier League. It is ridiculous that the Londoners are in this position, but there's no hiding from it anymore.

While Igor Tudor's side picked up a much-needed point against Liverpool on Sunday, that ended a five-match losing run in the top flight, and the interim manager's efforts at that stage had done absolutely nothing to suggest he should continue at the helm, with ENIC Group understood to have been considering his position.

Whether Spurs will now fire the 47-year-old after he steadied the sinking ship remains to be seen, but sporting director Johan Lange has earmarked a number of options as desperation deepens.

Who Spurs could replace Tudor with

Tottenham host Nottingham Forest next in the Premier League, and that's a relegation six-pointer if ever there was one.

WIll Tudor be in charge? Both Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi are considered among the top targets down N17, but whether either of them would take on the role ahead of the summer transfer window is another question. In Poch's case, any hopes of doing so would be barred by USMNT, who he will lead out for the looming World Cup.

According to talkSPORT, Tottenham have a whole host of further candidates on the shortlist, but given how unrealistic some of them are, they might find success going for former caretaker boss Ryan Mason, who was sacked at West Bromwich Albion earlier this season.

Mason, 34, might not be the perfect project manager for the side to get behind, but right now, with their Premier League position at risk and confidence at its nadir, this could prove a shrewd move indeed to galvanise the troops into action.

Mason is young and inexperienced, but he knows Tottenham well after learning the coaching craft at the outfit, and given the dire straits the Londoners find themselves in, this could be a genius gambit that offers shades of Manchester United's recent success with Michael Carrick.

Why Mason could be Spurs' own Carrick

Carrick, of course, once plied his trade for Tottenham, completing 75 senior appearances for the Lilywhites before joining Manchester United in 2006 for a fee shy of £19m.

With Mason, the situation is different, but he has established a connection with the north Londoners since his playing days were cut very short, and now, he could emulate the Red Devils interim manager in saving his club ahead of the final stretch of the season.

Something needs to change, and while Tudor secured an invaluable point at Anfield, too much rides on the final phase of the term, and the Croatian's four successive league losses before that stage stripped Tottenham of any hope that remained after Thomas Frank's dismal run.

Mason understands the club, and he understands that To Dare Is To Do. Still, Spurs are one of the least creative teams in the Premier League, and while Mason is no master tactician, he could help instil belief and a clear focus that aligns with Spurs' values and the specific skills of this crop of players.

After his short-lived stint with West Brom this season, Mason's stock has fallen, but the Hawthorns' problems are deep indeed, and his proactive 4-2-3-1 tactical style, promoting front-footed verticality, suggests he could be the one to steer this ship to safety.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

Carrick, after all, would have started the current campaign with a lesser reputation than Ruben Amorim as a technical tactician, but his impact at Old Trafford has been significant, the club now third in the standings and in good standing to qualify for the Champions League.

And the jury is still out regarding whether he will be in the dugout next term. In that, Mason could mimic his countryman's role, having, after all, taken charge for 13 matches across two spells as caretaker manager in the past. This is something that Carrick did before moving to a permanent managerial residence in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

As Tottenham correspondent George Sessions said, "I think Ryan Mason can keep Spurs up."

Bear in mind that the reporter made that claim before Spurs emerged from Anfield with a well-earned point in the Premier League, but one spirited display does not secure Tudor's position at the helm, and when considering the weight of the club's upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest, ENIC Group must act if they have an opportunity to strike.

In Mason, who knows the club well and fostered his coaching potential in various assistant roles there, the perfect short-term fix may present itself.

Tottenham Hotspur have rekindled a small flame of hope in the Premier League, their hard-earned point at Liverpool on Sunday giving Igor Tudor a platform to build on over the final few months of the season.

This has been an abject year for those of a Spurs persuasion, and while the vestiges of a Champions League campaign can be found days ahead in the return leg of their last 16 tie against Atletico Madrid.

Even the most fruitful Tottenham supporters would be surprised to see their side overturn the three-goal deficit and advance to the quarter-finals, and focus must be fixed on surviving the Premier League storm and avoiding relegation.

However, injuries abound at N17, and it's in the centre of the park where alarm bells are blaring.

Spurs' midfield injury crisis

Tottenham have absences in every department, but they withstood Liverpool's pressure without Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, and both of the club's star defenders should be back in contention for the crucial Premier League clash against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

However, the crisis is deeper in the middle of the park, with neither Dejan Kulusevski or James Maddison expected to return from the injuries they picked up last year before the end of the season.

Yves Bissouma and Conor Gallagher both got themselves ruled out at the weekend, but Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray were both excellent in their senior peers' absences.

However, Tudor will need more depth to survive of the dogfight ahead, and he could find the answer to his troubles in a youngster who has recently made his name known to Lilywhites supporters.

Spurs' academy talent could be a hero

Tottenham don't have many options available. In fact, against Liverpool, Tudor had to contend with as many as 13 first-team players being injured.

They had to make do, and Tudor unleashed 19-year-old Callum Olusesi for only his senior senior appearance in the closing stages, the youngster featuring for the final 14 minutes plus six minutes of stoppage time.

Olusesi had previously made his senior bow in the Europa League last term and had sat through every single one of the Londoners' Champions League fixtures this year as an unused substitute, but this was a more prominent role.

Against Liverpool, the dynamic midfielder completed all eight of his attempted passes, making two recoveries and three carries. Those statistics do little to tell of Olusesi's composure and presence on the ball, certainly looking at ease as his outfit chased down an equaliser and found one at the eleventh hour.

His versatile could be his secret weapon over the final few months of the season. He can play in advanced positions, offering plenty from an attacking sense, and he can dig deeper and utilise his physicality and ball-playing crispness too.

In this, Olusesi might end up ousting Gallagher ahead of the summer break, with the former Chelsea midfielder struggling since arriving from Atletico Madrid for a £35m fee in January.

Hailed as being a part of a "special generation" of youth talent in north London by scout Jacek Kulig, Olusesi could provide Tottenham with the uplift they need over the business months of the season, maybe even rekindling the identity and connection with the fanbase that has got somewhat lost in recent months.

Last season, Olusesi put his name on the map, playing a role in the club's Europa League-winning campaign.

Now, he's going from strength to strength at the perfect time, and he could be a difference-maker, earning more minutes and easing the need for a signing like Gallagher who has thus far failed to perform or connect with the wider Spurs system.

Tottenham Hotspur are now planning a move for a "prolific" midfielder, who could join in a shock swap move involving Destiny Udogie.

Spurs eyeing new midfielder amid relegation battle

Igor Tudor managed to stave off some pressure by picking up a point against Liverpool on Sunday, with Richarlison grabbing a late equaliser at Anfield, but there is still plenty of work to do to steer Tottenham clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

With Spurs failing to win a league game in 2026, they are just one point above the bottom three, heading into the final eight matches of the campaign, with West Ham United and Nottingham Forest also being forced to settle for a point at the weekend.

Bringing in a replacement for Tudor will be high on ENIC's to-do list this summer, with the Croatian only employed in an interim capacity, although there have been some suggestions he could leave sooner rather than later, and Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane is now a major target.

However, with the Lilywhites finishing 17th last season, and on course to end the current campaign in a similar position, it may be equally important to make major changes to the squad this summer, and they have now set their sights on a new midfielder.

That is according to a report from AS Roma Live, which states Tottenham are now planning a move for Roma star Niccolo Pisilli, and they may even be willing to offer up Udogie as part of a swap deal.

Spurs have been interested in signing the Italian for quite some time, submitting a €20m (£17m) offer last winter, but there could be competition for his signature, with Serie A giants Juventus also keen.

Pisilli earning rave reviews after impressing in Europe

The 21-year-old maestro has particularly impressed in the Europa League this season, bagging a brace to lead Roma to a 2-0 victory against Stuttgart back in January, which earned him rave reviews from scout Jacek Kulig.

The youngster put in a solid all-round performance that night, also winning four of the five duels he contested, and he has impressed from a defensive point of view in the Serie A too, ranking second in the Roma squad for interceptions per 90 (1.8) and tackles per 90 (2.5).