Alfie Devine stunned by Toby Alderweireld, Manor Solomon injury and Alejo Veliz Real Madrid test
There have been plenty of big experiences for Tottenham's large group of loan players in a busy week of football.
Spurs have 11 players out on loan currently across the Football League, Spain and Belgium after that major summer revamp of Ange Postecoglou's squad. Many are gaining important developmental experience while others are looking to earn themselves moves elsewhere.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is on loan at Marseille but with an obligation to move to the Ligue 1 club so we're going to only mention him in passing occasionally as he is not part of Tottenham's future going forward although he did come up against former team-mate Tanguy Ndombele and Nice this week.
football.london has taken a deep dive into how the rest of the group of Spurs loan players got on over the past week.
Alfie Devine (Westerlo)
Alfie Devine had an ultimately unhappy reunion with former Tottenham team-mate Toby Alderweireld when making his first start for Westerlo on Saturday.
The 20-year-old midfielder was named in the starting line-up with Luka Vuskovic against Royal Antwerp, who featured 35-year-old Alderweireld and also former Spurs striker Vincent Janssen, now 30. Alderweireld was in the Tottenham team on the day that Devine became the club's youngest ever goalscorer in the FA Cup tie at Marine as a 16-year-old, although the defender had left the pitch at half-time.
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Four years on and Alderweireld was the one who was lethal in front of goal, scoring both of Antwerp's goals with powerful headers, the second a looping last-gasp 94th minute winner.
Devine, who has been handed the number 10 shirt by Westerlo, played the full 90 minutes in an attacking midfield role, getting 36 touches of the ball, making one key pass, going on one dribble and sending five shots off target, including being denied by the goalkeeper on the run, while also making one tackle and one interception.
Alejo Veliz (Espanyol)
It was a tough day at the office for Alejo Veliz in Espanyol's 4-1 defeat at Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday. The 20-year striker's run of five consecutive starts came to an end but he was introduced at half-time with the score at 0-0.
An own goal from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois gave the visitors a shock lead at the Santiago Bernabeu but goals from Daniel Carvajal, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe turned the game into a rout for the hosts.
Veliz touched the ball just 14 times during his second half display but did make one key pass and won two aerial duels during what will have been another big experience for him. The young Argentine will be looking to get back in the starting line-up on Thursday evening when Espanyol host Villarreal before a reunion with his old team-mate and compatriot Giovani Lo Celso at Real Betis on Sunday.
Bryan Gil (Girona)
Bryan Gil and Girona are on a tough run of results at the moment. They have lost against Barcelona, PSG and Valencia in the space of a week.
Having played 66 minutes of the 1-0 Champions League defeat in Paris in midweek, the 23-year-old Spaniard was only used for the final 11 minutes of the 2-0 loss at Valencia on Saturday.
"To work and improve mistakes, but always together. See you on Wednesday at Montilivi," he posted on Instagram after the match with Girona welcoming Rayo Vallecano in midweek in La Liga before a trip to Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Manor Solomon (Leeds United)
Manor Solomon will have had more than enough of injuries in the past year, having missed 10 months or so with his knee problems at Spurs.
After a bright start to life at Leeds United with two bright performances and one assist, the 25-year-old missed their match at Cardiff City at the weekend with a back problem. The Israel international will be hoping to be back in contention for as many games as possible next week as Leeds host Coventry and then travel to Norwich and Sunderland, all in the space of six days in the Championship.
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Dane Scarlett (Oxford United)
Dane Scarlett got some much-needed minutes to end a run of three Championship matches spent watching on from the bench for Oxford United.
On Saturday, the 20-year-old striker got 22 minutes in the second half as the promoted side continued their run of away defeats in a 2-1 loss at Bristol City.
The Oxford Mail gave him a six in their player ratings with the review: "Didn’t manage to impact the game from the bench."
Ashley Phillips (Stoke City)
Ashley Phillips was unable to play a part in new Stoke manager Narcis Pelach's first game in charge at home to Hull City due to the concussion protocol. He took a shot full in the face in the Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town in the week and had to come off, so was unable to take part in the 3-1 defeat to Hull, with Stoke conceding three times in quick succession in the second half.
The 19-year-old has so far played 191 minutes across three games for Stoke and will be looking to increase that game time when he returns to action.
Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient)
Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley both enjoyed good displays against Brentford in the Carabao Cup in a 3-1 defeat for 10 man Orient in midweek.
Donley was a busy presence, took a few shots and was dangerous with set pieces. He made plenty of quick clever progressive passes against the Premier League team and embarked on one eye-catching dribble early in the second half, as well as picking up a yellow card for an overenthusiastic late challenge against Thomas Frank's side.
Keeley made his debut for Orient and his Carabao Cup debut and got plenty of praise for his efforts. The young goalkeeper also enjoyed a nice moment with his father after the final whistle in the stands.
Both players were reduced to supporting roles though in League One at the weekend with Orient making it back-to-back wins in that competition. Donley came on for the final minute of normal time in the 4-1 win at Stockport while there was no room on the bench for Keeley.
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Matthew Craig (Barnsley)
Matthew Craig played the second half of Barnsley's 7-0 defeat at Manchester United on Tuesday at Old Trafford. While it was a heavy defeat, he used that experience to play the full 90 minutes in Saturday's 2-1 win at Burton Albion, with Stephen Humphrys heading in a last-minute winner.
The 21-year-old touched the ball 35 times and made two tackles and two interceptions in a mobile performance in the centre of the pitch at the weekend.
George Abbott (Notts County)
George Abbott finally tasted defeat in a Notts County shirt as they lost 1-0 at home to Gillingham on Saturday, with the 19-year-old having won all three of his previous appearances for his new loan side.
The versatile Spurs U21s skipper picked up a third-minute yellow card but did not let it affect his performance as he played the full 90 minutes, touching the ball 46 times, playing one key pass, taking one shot and making one clearance.
Carey Bloedorn (Aveley)
Nineteen-year-old Spurs goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn continues to get lots of game time on loan at National League South side Aveley but the teenager could not prevent Aveley from going down 2-1 at home against Truro City at the weekend.
Bloedorn has played eight times now for Aveley since making his first loan move out of Spurs.
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