Spurs’ Under 21 side at this moment in time consists of 26 players. Of course there will likely be some loan moves away from the club during this summer, meaning that  the squad gets smaller, and likely seeing some of the first and second year Spurs Academy scholars get opportunities in the Under 21 side. Spurs’ Under 21 side were relegated from Division One of the Premier League 2 on the final day of last season. However, I have seen quite a lot of talk on social media about there being a change in the format to the Premier League 2 next season, but the Premier League 2 hasn’t confirmed anything yet regarding any changes. So I won’t be writing on the league in this piece, instead I will be more referring to the Spurs Under 21 squad/players to look out for this season. However, Spurs’ Under 21 side will be competing in the EFL Trophy again this season, and they have been drawn in a group with Colchester United, Cambridge United and Peterborough United. It will also be interesting to see whether or not Spurs will enter in to the Premier League International Cup again this season, for the first time since the 2018/19 season, especially as a Spurs Under 19 side will not be in the UEFA Youth League this season. There is also the Under 21 Premier Cup, but I don’t believe that Spurs have ever competed in that competition in the past.

Spurs’ Under 21 had a difficult first half of the 2022/23 season. However, they started to win games during the second half of the season, and in the end they were unlucky not to avoid relegation. Experienced and very versatile player Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was excellent for the Spurs Under 21 side last season whenever he played, but it will be interesting to see whether the central defender goes out on loan this season, or whether he gets an opportunity with the first team. In which case there are a number of central defenders who could get more opportunities with the Spurs Under 21 side. Talents such as Maksim Paskotši, Alfie Dorrington, Charlie Sayers and Tyrell Ashcroft are just some of the players who can play in central defence. George Abbott had a fantastic season during 2022/23 for the Spurs Under 18 and 21’s side, and the player who featured for the first team on the final day of the last Premier League Season will surely be hoping to make even more strides this season. A versatile midfield player who can also play at full-back, George Abbott is a really good player. Maxwell McKnight is another player who is part of the same age group as George Abbott at Spurs, and the right-back is another player who I personally believe has a big future.

Maxwell McKnight can play on both flanks as a full-back and as a winger, and he is very good at getting forward with the ball. Hopefully he’ll get a lot of minutes for Wayne Burnett’s side next season. Midfielder Max Robson recently signed a two year contract with the club, and after being unfortunate with injuries over the last couple of seasons, he did well I thought, when playing in the different position of right-back last season. He is a player who has real quality on the ball, and he can score goals and also create them too. It will be interesting to see which positions he plays in for the team next season. As for the centre-forwards, I personally wouldn’t be surprised to see Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott and Jude Soonsup-Bell all go out on loan next season. That would mean that Jaden Williams (Jaden can also play as a winger), Jamie Donley (Jamie can also play as a CAM) and Will Lankshear would be competing for minutes in the centre-forward position next season. Will Lankshear did well for the Spurs Under 18 side last season, before sustaining an injury which ruled him out for much of the second half of last season. He is another great prospect. He is strong, very hardworking off the ball, a fine finisher and he also has good pace.

From the Spurs Under 18 side I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mikey Moore and Tyrese Hall get good opportunities with the Spurs Under 21 side next season, along with other players from that very talented group of players. In other news I am delighted to say that I will be returning this season to do my match reports of the Spurs Under 18 side and the Under 21 sides’ matches, because of a change in circumstances, after not reporting on matches for much of the previous 2022/23 season. I really look forward to returning to writing my reports and match previews as well, starting with the Spurs Under 21’s pre-season friendly with Enfield Town later this month. I would like to wish the Spurs Under 21 squad all the very best of luck for the 2023/24 season.

The Spurs Under 21 side of 2023/24:

Goalkeepers: Josh Keeley, Aaron Maguire, Luca Gunter.

Defenders: Alfie Dorrington, Maksim Paskotši, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Will Andiyapan, Charlie Sayers, Tyrell Ashcroft, Jahziah Linton, Maxwell McKnight.

Midfielders/wingers: George Abbott, Dante Cassanova, Alfie Devine, Matthew Craig, Nile John, Billy Heaps, Rio Kyerematen, Max Robson, Yago Santiago.

Forwards: Jaden Williams, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Jamie Donley, Will Lankshear, Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott.