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Mikey Moore and the five Tottenham wonderkids who could benefit from Postecoglou squad problem

Mikey Moore in action against Bryan Mbeumo during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Ange Postecoglou has 12 spots to fill on his Tottenham Hotspur bench on Thursday night in the Europa League match against Qarabag and that means some young players could get chances.

The first group stage encounter of the club's European campaign will require the Spurs boss to name a matchday squad of 23 players. Postecoglou has both Wilson Odobert and Richarlison out injured for the immediate future and Djed Spence unavailable for the Europa League group stages as there was no room for him in the squad unless the Australian had left out another player, with goalkeeper Fraser Forster one mooted possibility at the time.

Postecoglou could only name a squad of 23 senior players for the Europa League as the club had to leave open two spots, due to having only two senior club-trained players to register.

There is another issue on Thursday night that Cristian Romero is suspended due to the red card he picked up two seasons ago in the Champions League against AC Milan, Tottenham's last European game.

So that means without the injured Richarlison and Odobert and the unavailable Spence and Romero, Spurs only have 20 of their registered senior players to choose from. It's also unlikely - although not entirely out of the question - that Postecoglou could put all four of his goalkeepers into his matchday squad with three taking up bench spots. That seems like overkill though.

That means, barring any further injuries from the weekend, there's potentially four or five places up for grabs on the bench for Tottenham's academy players, who are all registered on a separate UEFA B list. Here are five potential candidates although we'll know more about who stands a chance during the brief bit of opening training the media get to see on Wednesday morning.

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Mikey Moore

Now a part of the first team squad, there's a chance that 17-year-old Mikey Moore could even start this game. He made his third Premier League appearance from the bench on Saturday in the victory against Brentford and with Postecoglou potentially thinking about keeping Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson fresh to face Manchester United three days later, he might hand the winger spots to Timo Werner and the teenage Moore.

It would be a first start for the talented youngster but with there being little risk in this first match against the Azerbaijani side because it's a long eight-game group stage, this could be the perfect time to give him a start.

Will Lankshear

Nineteen-year-old striker Will Lankshear has also become part of the first team set-up after both he and Moore impressed Postecoglou during pre-season.

The striker was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season last time out and plundered 32 goals for the U21s and then proceeded to score a couple of goals for the first team over the summer, earning plenty of praise from the Tottenham boss.

Lankshear returned to training last week following a hamstring injury. He played only 45 minutes of Friday night's U21s defeat to Fulham, but he is more than likely to be included in the squad for the Qarabag game barring any issues and could get some minutes as it goes on.

Depending on his fitness, there might even be a temptation to start him if Dominic Solanke is given a rest ahead of the United game. Postecoglou could equally use the chance to hand his £65million striker an hour or a half to continue to top up his fitness after his own injury absence.

Alfie Dorrington

Academy centre-back Alfie Dorrington has had plenty of experience on Spurs' first team bench in recent seasons without making the step on to the pitch.

The 19-year-old centre-back was back in action for the U21s against Valencia in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday night following his long hamstring injury lay-off.

While the 19-year-old played just an hour on his return and then wasn't thrown straight back into the Premier League 2 defeat Fulham three days later, Postecoglou might consider him for a place especially with Romero's absence.

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Tyrese Hall

Postecoglou could also look to use an academy midfielder on the bench for Thursday's game. Tyrese Hall could have the edge after being involved during pre-season with the Australian and his coaches but 17-year-old Callum Olusesi could also be pushing him for a spot after starting the season well for the U21s and captaining them against Valencia in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday evening.

Rio Kyerematen also travelled with Tottenham and got a couple of minutes at the end of their post-season friendly in Melbourne against Newcastle.

With Spurs' large number of midfielders in the first team it could just be a watching role but for any young player it will be a great experience, with Hall having already been on the bench in the Premier League once last season.

Dante Cassanova

With Spence unavailable, Postecoglou will need full-back cover and that could come in the shape of 20-year-old Dante Cassanova, who can play at both right-back and in the centre of defence, or Leo Black, who was also included in the Melbourne trip in May with the first team squad and came on in the final minutes.

For either of those players it could be a great chance to finally get their first taste of senior competitive football in a Tottenham shirt.

Max Robson, 21, did get one chance in pre-season at left-back and played for the U21s against Valencia on Tuesday night. However, the UEFA B list rules state that a "player may be registered if he is born on or after 1 January 2003" while Robson was born on October 17, 2002. It's strange in that respect that he wasn't named in one of the two vacant club-trained spots in the main squad in case of a full-back injury crisis.

Others with a chance

We've already mentioned Olusesi, Black and Kyerematen, and others who have played plenty of U21s minutes so far this season who might potentially come into contention include full-backs Maxwell McKnight and Maeson King and tricky wingers Damola Ajayi, Yusuf Akramrich and Oliver Irow.

If Postecoglou is after another striker then Jaden Williams has been getting his chances in Lankshear's absence. Summer arrival 16-year-old George Feeney has settled in well with the U18s since his move from Glentoran but would not be available for the B list as he has not played for the club for two years yet.

Highly-rated 16-year-old centre-back Jun'ai Byfield was used during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Cambridge United back in July so might be in the coaching staff's thinking after getting plenty of game time for the U18s this season.

There are plenty pushing for a spot on Postecoglou's bench and first team training this week could help to cement any of their chances.

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