Spurs’ Under 21 side will look to continue their perfect start to the season later today (the game starts at 19:30pm), when they face League Two side Colchester United in their first group-stage fixture of the 2023/24 EFL Trophy, at the Colchester Community Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side have won all of their games so far this season, but they will be facing a senior side later today, for the first time in a competitive match this season. The EFL Trophy always provides Spurs’ Under 21 side with great experience of playing against senior sides, and this edition of the competition will be no different for the Spurs Academy players. Spurs’ Under 21 side have met Colchester United before in this competition, at the same venue in 2019. That game finished 1-1, with Spurs gaining the extra point that day on penalties, which is how the game will finish if both teams are level after 90 minutes. Look out for former Spurs Academy player Chay Cooper on Tuesday evening, if he is involved. The skilful winger now plays for Colchester United, although the 21 year old hasn’t featured for the Colchester United first team so far this season. This will be a great game of football and a real test for the Spurs Under 21 side. I wish them all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Keeley, Ashcroft, Phillips, Dorrington, Robson, Lyons-Foster (c), Craig, Donley, Soonsup-Bell, Lankshear, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Gunter, McKnight, Sayers, Andiyapan, Cassanova, Kyerematen, Akhamrich. 

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: 1-1 (Spurs won the extra point on penalties).

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Chay Cooper (21). The highly skilful and creative former Spurs Academy player has already featured for the Colchester United first team on occasions in the past, and also scored for them.

Spurs’ Under 18 side face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday morning (the game starts at 11:30am), in their first competitive home game of the season. Stuart Lewis’ side have won two of their opening three games from all competitions, since the season started last month. Brighton have won one and drawn two of their three opening Premier League South games of this season. Brighton are always a difficult team to face at this level, although Spurs’ Under 18 side haven’t lost a competitive match to them since 2019. Spurs’ most recent win at this level came against Blackburn Rovers in the Under 18 Premier League Cup, a group-stage fixture which they won 3-0, just before the recent international break. The Brighton game tomorrow should be a really interesting game, as Stuart Lewis’ side look to make it three wins in a row. I would like to wish the Spurs team all the very best for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Bloedorn, Black, Chaplin (c), Rowswell, King, Willhoft-King, Olusesi, Hall, Irow, Moore, Akhamrich.

Substitutes from: Krasniqi, Arganese-McDermott, Morgan, James, Lehane.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: 2-2.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Joe Belmont (17). The Wales youth international has scored two goals and provided one assist from just three Under 18 Premier League South games this season.

Spurs’ Under 21 side have won all four of their competitive matches this season. Wayne Burnett’s side have played some really good football, and they’ll be looking forward to their final Premier League 2 game until after the international break, when they face Blackburn Rovers’ Under 21 side at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon (the game starts at 13:00pm). Blackburn Rovers won both Premier League 2 fixtures with Spurs last season. From their opening three Premier League 2 games of this season, they have won one, drawn one and lost one. Blackburn Rovers are always a difficult team to face in the Premier League 2, and they are a talented team. Spurs’ Under 21 side won 3-2 against Sunderland in dramatic fashion on Tuesday evening, in the group-stages of the Under 21 Premier League Cup. Spurs will be hoping to continue their excellent form into this league fixture on Saturday, and it should be an interesting game. I will be in attendance, and I would like to wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Keeley, Ashcroft, Dorrington, Paskotši, Robson, Lyons-Foster (c), Craig, Donley, John, Soonsup-Bell, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Gunter, McKnight, Sayers, Kyerematen, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: Will Andiyapan.

Previous meeting: Spurs 2-3.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Thomas Bloxham (18). The former Spurs Academy player who left Spurs at the end of last season, is a very skilful player with a real eye for goal, and somebody who I thought highly of as a player, when he was with the Spurs Under 18 side. Bloxham scored his first senior competitive goal on Tuesday, on his competitive debut for Blackburn Rovers first team, in a Carabao Cup second round tie with Harrogate Town. If he does feature for their Under 21 side against Spurs on Saturday, then he will be a player that the Spurs players will have to watch closely.

On Saturday morning (the game starts at 11:00am) the Spurs Under 18 side will play their first Under 18 Premier League Cup group-stage fixture of this season, as they look to defend the trophy that they won last season. Stuart Lewis’ side face Blackburn Rovers’ Under 18 side at the Blackburn Rovers Football Academy, at Brockhall Village, and it is the first time that these two sides have met at this level in a competitive match for quite a long time. Blackburn Rovers’ Under 18 side have drawn one, won one and lost one, from their opening three league games of the season. Their most recent Under 18 Premier League South fixture ended in them losing 6-0 to Manchester City, last weekend. Spurs’ Under 18 side won 4-2 away to Arsenal in the Premier League South last weekend, and they’ll be hoping to record a similar result on Saturday in Lancashire. Playing against Blackburn Rovers at Academy level is always difficult, as the Spurs Under 21 side will know from matches in recent seasons. It will be interesting to see whether there will be many changes from the team that played Arsenal last Saturday. Also in Spurs’ group this season are Chelsea and Barnsley, with only the top team being guaranteed of progressing to the next stage of the competition. That’s why it’s so important to win your first group game in this competition.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to make this game on Saturday. However, I will be at the Spurs Under 21’s versus Blackburn Rovers Premier League 2 fixture in Stevenage, on the same day.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Krasniqi, Black, Arganese-McDermott, Chaplin, Logan, Morgan, Olusesi, Hall (c), Akhamrich, Lehane, Moore.

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Rowswell, King, Willhoft-King, Irow. 

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: N/A.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Zack Stritch (17). The attacking midfielder and second year scholar has started the new season really well, scoring three league goals and providing one assist for the Blackburn Rovers Under 18 side, in the Premier League North.

After losing their first Under 18 Premier League South fixture to Aston Villa, Stuart Lewis’ Spurs Under 18 side face Arsenal in a Premier League South North London derby on Saturday morning (the game starts at 11:00am), at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground. Last season Spurs’ Under 18 side lost 4-1 to Arsenal in this league fixture, before then winning 3-2 in the reverse fixture at Hotspur Way. This is always a very competitive game, and it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal Under 21’s regulars so far this season – Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly will feature for the Arsenal Under 18 side in this important game on Saturday. Spurs will be hoping to respond well to losing 4-0 to Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League South season, and this should be a really good game between two very good teams. Arsenal reached the final of the FA Youth Cup last season, with Spurs of course winning the Under 17 and Under 18 Premier League Cups. Unfortunately I won’t be able to watch the game on Saturday, as Arsenal are not letting fans in to watch the game at their training ground. However, I wish the Spurs Under 18 side all the very best for this fixture.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Krasniqi, Black, Rowswell, Morgan, King, Willhoft-King, Olusesi, Hall, Irow, Ajayi (c), Moore.

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Adekunle, Arganese-McDermott, Akhamrich, Lehane.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-2.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-2.

My one to watch: Ethan Nwaneri (16). The first year scholar with Arsenal is a really talented player, who has already featured for the Arsenal first team, as well as for their Under 21 side on a good number of occasions. The highly skilful midfielder really impressed me when the Spurs Under 21 side faced Arsenal last season in the Premier League 2, and if he does feature against Spurs’ Under 18 side on Saturday, then it will make what is always a difficult game, even more difficult for Spurs. Ethan has scored three goals and provided two assists this season, from three games for the Arsenal Under 21 side.

The last time that Spurs’ Under 21 side met Derby County at this level was in the old Premier League 2 Division One, in a fixture which ended 1-0 to Spurs in the April of 2022. That game was played at Pride Park, the same venue that Spurs’ Under 21 side will face Derby County at on Friday evening in the Premier League 2 (the game starts at 19:00pm). Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side have started the season really well, convincingly winning their first two league games of the season against Manchester City and Newcastle United respectively, playing some really good football in both of those games. Derby County only picked up one point from 20 Premier League 2 games last season, scoring only 13 league goals. They have started this season a lot better, only narrowly losing 2-1 to Leicester City in their opening league game, before then drawing 1-1 at home to a talented Liverpool Under 21 side last Friday. So this won’t be an easy game for Spurs, who have another game on Tuesday, when they face Sunderland’s Under 21 side in their first Under 21 Premier League Cup group-stage fixture of the season. For Derby County tomorrow, some of the players to look out for are forward Dajaune Brown and also very experienced 36 year old player-coach Bradley Johnson. I would like to wish the Spurs Under 21 side all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Keeley, Ashcroft, Dorrington, Sayers, Robson, Lyons-Foster (c), Craig, Donley, John, Soonsup-Bell, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Gunter, Cassanova, Abbott, Kyerematen, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-0.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-0.

My one to watch: Dajaune Brown (17). The Derby County forward scored a good amount of goals for their Under 18 side last season, and Dajaune also scored a goal against Liverpool’s Under 21 side in a 1-1 Premier League 2 draw last Friday.

After playing superbly well against Manchester City’s Under 21 side last Saturday, Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 21 side face Newcastle United this Saturday (the game starts at 13:00pm), at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium. Spurs did really well to win 5-0 against Manchester City last week, but moving onto their next fixture with Newcastle United, the game itself will be a difficult game for Spurs. Newcastle United finished in eighth place in the old Premier League 2 Division Two last season. However, they have some really good players who are part of their Under 21 side, players such as left-back Alex Murphy, midfielder Lewis Miley and winger Amadou Diallo, who used to play for West Ham United. Former Spurs Academy player Jordan Hackett also plays for the Newcastle United Under 21 side. The last time that these two teams met in a league game at this level, was in 2014, when Spurs won 4-1. With Souleymane Coulibably, Harry Kane, Andros Townsend and Kenny McEvoy getting Spurs’ goals on that day. The game on Saturday should be a really good one, and if Spurs start this game like they did against Manchester City in their opening game of the season, then they have a good chance of continuing their perfect start to the 2023/24 season. 

I will be attending the Newcastle United game on Saturday, before then travelling to the first team game against Manchester United. I wish the Spurs Under 21 side all the very best of luck for the game against Newcastle United.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Gunter, Ashcroft, Dorrington, Paskotši, Robson, Lyons-Foster (c), John, Donley, Ajayi, Soonsup-Bell, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Maguire, Sayers, Cassanova, Kyerematen, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 4-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Alex Murphy (19). A left-back with a really good balance to his game, Republic of Ireland youth international Alex Murphy is a versatile player who featured for the Newcastle United first team in pre-season. I saw Alex play in an Under 19’s European Championships qualifier for the Republic of Ireland last season, and I thought that he was the best player on the pitch on the day. He influenced the game well at both ends of the pitch, and the former Galway United showed his good pace and ability to get forward well, as well as making it difficult for players to get beyond him on the left flank.

Spurs’ Under 21 side face the reigning Premier League 2 champions Manchester City on Saturday afternoon (the game starts at 13:00pm) at the Manchester City Training Centre. The Manchester City Under 21 side that won the league last season were outstanding. However, some very important players from the Manchester City Under 21 side that won the league last season, such as Carlos Borges, Shea Charles and Adedire Mebude have all left the club this summer. Although this game tomorrow will still be one of the most difficult ones of the 2023/24 season for Spurs. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side recorded a 0-0 draw with non-League side Enfield Town, before then losing 4-0 to League One side Stevenage, in pre-season. Their first league game of the season on Saturday will be a very interesting one, and it should be a very good game of football. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make the game, as I’ll be at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground on the same afternoon, to watch Spurs’ Under 18 side face Aston Villa in a Premier League South fixture. However, I wish Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side all the very best for the game. Manchester City have been a very, very good team at this level for a long time, and they play some excellent football. However, Spurs recorded a 0-0 draw with Manchester City, in this fixture last season, and the season before that they won both league fixtures against them at this level.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter, Abbott, Dorrington, Lyons-Foster (c), Robson, White, Kyerematen, Donley, John, Santiago, Soonsup-Bell.

Substitutes from: Maguire, Ashcroft, Sayers, Cassanova, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-2.

My score prediction: 1-1.

My one to watch: Nico O’Reilly (18). The very creative and skilful midfielder scored and created a really good number of goals for Manchester City’s Under 18 side last season, as a second year scholar. Nico O’Reilly also has experience of playing for the Manchester City Under 21 side.

The last time that Spurs and Aston Villa met at this level, was in the final of the Under 18 Premier League Cup, at the end of last season. Spurs won that game 3-1 at Villa Park, and it was a great occasion for the Spurs Academy. On Saturday (the game starts at 12:00pm) Spurs’ Under 18 side will play their first Under 18 Premier League South game of the 2023/24 season, when they face Aston Villa at their Bodymoor Heath training ground. Spurs won all three of their competitive meetings with Aston Villa at this level last season, and Spurs have done well in recent meetings with Aston Villa at this level. This will however, be a good test for Spurs on the opening day of the Premier League South season. Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side recently faced Irish side Cork City’s Under 19 side in a pre-season friendly match in Ireland, and although Spurs lost that game 1-0, it was a good pre-season test for the squad. The Spurs Under 21 side also start their season on Saturday, with an away fixture against Manchester City. So it will be interesting to see whether any of the players from Stuart Lewis’ squad travel to Manchester with the Under 21 squad, rather than play against Aston Villa. I will be attending the Aston Villa game on Saturday, and I’d like to wish the Spurs side all the very best of luck for the game, and the season ahead.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Krasniqi, Black, Rowswell, Chaplin, King, Morgan, Hall, Irow, Akhamrich, Moore, Ajayi (c).

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Logan, Arganese-McDermott, Olusesi, James.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Rory Wilson (17). The Scotland youth international and now second year scholar impressed with Aston Villa at academy level last season, and he scored a good amount of goals for both their Under 18 side, as well as for their Under 21 side.

Spurs’ Development Squad face recently promoted League One side Stevenage, on Saturday afternoon (the game starts at 15:00pm) at their Lamex Stadium. Spurs’ Under 21 side recorded a 0-0 draw with non-League side Enfield Town, in their first game of pre-season. However, this game against Stevenage will be much more difficult than their first game of pre-season, with Steve Evans’ Stevenage side winning their most recent pre-season friendly 2-1 against Championship side Ipswich Town. However, this game will be good preparation for the EFL Trophy, that Spurs’ Under 21 side will be competing in again this season. Last season Spurs’ Development Squad actually faced Stevenage in that competition, with Spurs being quite unlucky to lose that game 1-0, having defended well against them in that game. It will be interesting to see whether any of the Spurs Academy players who traveled with the Spurs first team for their pre-season tour, will feature tomorrow for the Spurs Under 21 side. Last pre-season Josh Keeley, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Charlie Sayers all started against Bromley in a pre-season friendly, having not been back long from Spurs’ pre-season trip, during the same summer. 

Some Stevenage players to watch tomorrow include central defender Carl Piergianni, forward Jamie Reid and midfielder Jordan Roberts. I will be reporting on the game tomorrow, and I wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Keeley, Andiyapan, Dorrington, Lyons-Foster (c), Robson, White, Kyerematen, Cassanova, John, Parrott, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Maguire, Ashcroft, Linton, Sayers, Morgan, Ajayi, Soonsup-Bell.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 0-1.

My score prediction: 1-1.

My one to watch: Carl Piergianni. The 31 year old Stevenage central defender is a very experienced player who is very good in the air, and he scored eight goals for Stevenage last season. As well as being a difficult defender to play against, Spurs will have to be aware of his ability to score goals from set-pieces, because of his ability to score headed goals.