As part of the Spurs Under 18’s pre-season trip to Cork in Ireland, Stuart Lewis’ Spurs side will face Cork City’s Under 19 side in a pre-season friendly at their Bishopstown training ground on Friday afternoon (the game starts at 12pm). Spurs’ Under 18 side achieved some really good things last season, winning the Under 18 Premier League Cup, in what was a really good season. This friendly match with Cork City will be a good test for Spurs, and it certainly won’t be an easy game, with Cork City’s Academy set-up helping to produce some good and talented players in recent seasons, who have since joined big club’s Academy set-ups in England. The friendly match on Friday should be a good occasion and experience for the Spurs Academy players who are involved in the match, especially as they’ll be playing in front of what should be a good crowd of fans. It will be interesting to see who plays for Spurs in the game on Friday, with players such as Tyrese Hall (second year scholar), Mikey Moore (first year scholar) and Callum Olusesi (first year scholar) all not featuring for the Spurs Under 21 side, in their pre-season friendly with Enfield Town, on Tuesday. So I would have thought that all three of those players will feature against Cork City, on Friday. 

The Spurs Under 18 side this season is another very talented group of players, who I personally think will do really well this season. Three recent signings who have joined the Spurs Academy this summer (Herbie James, Roman Egan-Riley and Calum Logan) could well feature for the Spurs Under 18 side in the friendly match on Friday. I will be in attendance at the Cork City friendly tomorrow, after having traveled to Ireland to report on the game. It should be a good friendly match, and I wish the Spurs team all the very best for the game.

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

Substitutes from: Bloedorn, Simons, Logan, Egan-Riley, Orr, Willhoft-King, Akhamrich, James, Lehane.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: N/A.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-2.

My one to watch: Alex Kelliher. The Cork City Under 19’s midfielder scored a goal in their recent league win over Wexford, and Alex Kelliher is a player who has already featured on the bench for Cork City’s first team this season.

Spurs’ Under 21 side will play their first friendly game of pre-season on Tuesday evening (the game starts at 19:30pm) when they face local non-League side Enfield Town. Spurs’ Development side have often played the Isthmian League Premier Division side in recent pre-seasons, and the friendly which takes place at Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, always provides a good test for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side at this stage of pre-season. Enfield Town faced QPR’s Development side at the weekend, with that game finishing 1-0 to QPR. This annual pre-season fixture always provides the Spurs Development side with a good pre-season test, as they look to build-up their match fitness for the beginning of the new Premier League 2 season. Some of the Spurs Development side players missed the end of last season (2022/23), because of injury. Players such as Tyrell Ashcroft, Will Lankshear and Jude Soonsup-Bell, all missed the end of last season because of injury, so it will be interesting to see whether they all return for the Enfield Town friendly, tomorrow. This will be a physical first test of pre-season, with many of the Enfield Town players having a lot of experience of playing senior football. I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow. It’s the start of a long season for the Spurs Under 21 side, but hopefully it will be a good one for the team.

I wish the Spurs team all the best for the friendly match with Enfield Town, and I will be doing the first of my many match reports after the game tomorrow.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Maguire, Paskotši, Dorrington, Lyons-Foster (c), Linton, Cassanova, John, McKnight, Robson, Santiago, Soonsup-Bell.

Substitutes from: Gunter, Andiyapan, Sayers, Ashcroft, Heaps, Hall, Ajayi, Williams.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 2-3.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-0.

My one to watch: Lewis Taaffe. The experienced and versatile 31 year old Enfield Town player is someone that the Spurs players will have to be aware of on Tuesday. Lewis Taaffe has an eye for goal and his experience in the game will makes him one of the Enfield players to watch on Tuesday evening, for the friendly match with Spurs’ Under 21 side.

Spurs’ Under 18 side travel to south London to face Crystal Palace on Saturday (the game starts at 11:00am), in a Premier League South fixture. Spurs were very unlucky not to have picked up at least a point against Chelsea in their last league fixture, as it was a game that they lost 2-1. However, were it not for two great goals from Chelsea in that match, then Stuart Lewis’ side would have got something from the game. Crystal Palace have picked up 14 points from their opening eight Premier League South games of this season, and they are currently in second place in the league table. In the last game it was great to see Rio Kyerematen, Will Andiyapan and Alfie Dorrington return to the Spurs Under 18 side squad. This should be a great game of football, but it will also be a tough game for Spurs, with Crystal Palace winning both league fixtures with Spurs at this level last season. I would like to wish Spurs all the vey best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter (c), Abbott, Chaplin, Dorrington, McKnight, Kyerematen, Willhoft-King, Williams, Donley, Akhamrich, Lankshear.

Subs from: Krasniqi, Andiyapan, Hall, Owen, Ajayi.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 2-4.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-2.

My one to watch: Junior Dixon (18). The Crystal Palace second year scholar has scored a very impressive total of eight Premier League South goals from seven appearances this season for the Crystal Palace Under 18 side.

Spurs’ Under 18 side face Chelsea in a Premier League South fixture at Hotspur Way on Saturday morning (the game starts at 11:00am). Spurs won 5-1 against Charlton Athletic in their last competitive match at this level, with that game being in the Under 18 Premier League Cup. The game on Saturday against Chelsea is the first meeting between the two sides at this level this season. Chelsea won both fixtures against Spurs last season in the league, and they are currently in third place in the Premier League South, with 10 points from their opening six league matches of the season. They are of course a very good side and this will be a difficult game for Spurs, but it will also be a very competitive game. I would like to wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game. Spurs’ Under 18 side today found out that they will face QPR, at home, in the third round of the 2022/23 edition of the FA Youth Cup.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter (c), McKnight, Chaplin, Morgan, Linton, Abbott, Moore, Williams, Donley, Irow, Lankshear.

Subs from: Krasniqi, King, Hall, Owen, Ajayi.

Injured/unavailable: Thomas Bloxham (on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under 18 side).

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 2-3.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Tudor Mendel-Idowu (17). The second year scholar has been starting matches on the right flank as a winger, in recent games, and he is a very skilful and creative player who has impressed me whenever I have seen him play for Chelsea in the past.

In what is their final Premier League 2 fixture until January 2023, Spurs’ Under 21 side face West Ham United at the Rush Green Stadium on Friday evening (the game starts at 19:00pm). Spurs lost 3-0 to Chelsea on Monday, but there were moments in the game when they were unlucky not to have scored goals at important times. West Ham United are currently in bottom place of Division One of the Premier League 2, but they got their first league win of the season in their last Premier League 2 match at home to Wolves, which they won 3-1. West Ham are a good and talented side, and this will be a difficult game for Spurs. I will be reporting on the game tomorrow, and I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Keeley, Paskotši, Fagan-Walcott, Lyons-Foster, Cesay, Craig, John (c), Mundle, Devine, Santiago, Donley.

Subs from: Maguire, Muir, Sayers, Robson, Mathurin.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-3.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-1.

My one to watch: Divin Mubama (18). The West Ham United forward and second year scholar who has already featured for the West Ham first team this season, has scored two goals from seven Premier League 2 games this season.

After only just missing out on getting all three points in their most recent Premier League 2 fixture against Manchester United, Spurs’ Under 21 side will be hoping to carry what was a good performance last Saturday, in to their game with Chelsea on Monday. The game which takes place at Kingsmeadow and starts at 19:00pm, is Spurs’ first meeting with Chelsea at this level since the final Premier League 2 match of last season. In that game Chelsea needed to win to guarantee their Division One status for another season. They scored a late winner in that game, after Spurs had taken the lead through former Spurs Academy player Kion Etete. Unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches at this level, Chelsea are currently in seventh place in the Premier League 2 Division One, with 17 points from 11 league matches. Former Arsenal player Omari Giraud-Hutchinson is a player who Spurs will have to watch closely, as is Cesare Casadei. Chelsea forward Malik Mothersille is also a player who has impressed me a lot in the past. Chelsea will be a difficult team to face, but this will be an interesting game, and as always I wish the Spurs team all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Keeley, Craig, Fagan-Walcott, Sayers, Cesay, Lyons-Foster, White, Mundle, Devine, John (c), Santiago.

Subs from: Maguire, Muir, Robson, Mathurin, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 1-2.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Omari Giraud-Hutchinson (19). A creative and highly skilful forward who often plays out wide on the flanks as a winger. Omari Giraud-Hutchinson is a player who has a real eye for goal, and he has scored five Premier League 2 goals and provided four assists already this season for Chelsea’s Under 21 side.

Spurs’ Under 18 side face Charlton Athletic on Saturday (the game starts at 11:00am), at Charlton Athletic’s training ground, in their final Under 18 Premier League Cup group-stage fixture of this season. Not a side that Spurs have faced in competitive games at this level in recent seasons, category two academy side Charlton Athletic are currently in first place in Group F of the Under 18 Premier League Cup. After they won against Wolves, and then against a very talented Liverpool side by a remarkable scoreline of 8-1. Spurs need to win against Charlton on Saturday to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals of the competition, although if they finish as the best second placed side, then they will also qualify for the quarter-finals stage of the competition, a competition which Spurs reached the final of in 2017/18. This will be a very interesting game on Saturday, and it is one that I am hoping to be in attendance for. However, travelling to the game on Saturday may make that difficult. I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck for this important cup match.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter, McKnight, Bryan-Waugh, Chaplin, Linton, Abbott, Moore, Williams (c), Ajayi, Irow, Lankshear.

Subs from: Krasniqi, Willhoft-King, Bloxham, Owen, Akhamrich.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: N/A.

My score prediction: Spurs 3-2.

My one to watch: Henry Rylah. The Charlton Athletic Academy player scored a brace against Liverpool, in Charlton’s 8-1 win in their last match in this competition.

Spurs’ Under 19 side face French side Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday (the game starts at 14:00pm, and is taking place in Marseille), in their final UEFA Youth League group-stage fixture of the 2022/23 edition of the competition. Spurs are officially out of the competition, and that was confirmed following their 2-1 loss to Sporting Clube de Portugal last week. Spurs’ Under 19 side won 3-0 against Olympique de Marseille in their opening game of the group, and on that day Spurs were very good. If Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side get at least a draw against Marseille tomorrow, then they will finish in third place in the group. I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck for the game tomorrow.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Hayton, Abbott, McKnight, Chaplin, Linton, John (c), Moore, Santiago, Devine, Mundle, Williams.

Subs from: Gunter, Willhoft-King, Olusesi, Ajayi, Mathurin, Owen, Lankshear.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 3-0.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Jores Rahou (19). The Marseille player played in the centre-forward position against Spurs in the reverse fixture, and I thought that he had a good game.

Spurs’ Under 21 side face Manchester United at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium (the game starts at 12:00pm) in a Premier League 2 fixture on Saturday. Wayne Burnett’s side recorded a 1-1 draw with Fulham last Saturday, in what was a game that they were unfortunate not to have won. Manchester United are currently in 11th place in the Premier League 2 Division One, after picking up nine points from ten league games this season. They are of course a good team at this level, and with talented players such as Shola Shoretire, Isak Hansen-Aaroen and support player and former Spurs player Tom Huddlestone in their side, this will be a difficult game for Spurs. Unfortunately central defender Alfie Dorrington, who has started a good number of games for the Spurs Under 21 side recently, had to be substituted against Sporting Clube de Portugal on Wednesday because of injury, in a UEFA Youth League fixture. I will of course be in attendance for the Manchester United match tomorrow, and I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck for the match.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Keeley, Cesay, Muir, Fagan-Walcott, Abbott, Lyons-Foster, Craig (c), Devine, Mundle, Donley, Santiago.

Subs from: Maguire, McKnight, John, Robson, Mathurin.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: Alfie Dorrington.

Previous meeting: 1-1.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Charlie Savage (19). The central midfielder (son of Robbie Savage) is a midfielder who likes to get on the ball in the central areas of the pitch, and he has an impressive passing range. I have been impressed whenever I have seen him in the past.

Spurs’ Under 19 side face Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal at Hotspur Way on Wednesday (the game starts at 13:00pm), in a UEFA Youth League group-stage fixture. Spurs have to win against a very good Sporting Clube de Portugal Under 19 side, to really have a chance of getting to the next stage of the competition. Sporting Clube de Portugal are top of the group, with eight points from four games played in the competition, while Spurs are in third place, with three points from four matches. Sporting Clube de Portugal won 2-0 against Spurs in the reverse fixture in September, in a game that the home side were much the better team in, on that occasion. Midfielder Matthew Craig is suspended for Spurs tomorrow, after being sent off in their last game in the competition. This will be an interesting game on Wednesday, and I would like to wish Spurs all the very best of luck for the game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Gunter, McKnight, Dorrington, Andiyapan, Abbott, John (c), Devine, Mundle, Donley, Santiago, Lankshear.

Subs from: Hayton, Linton, Chaplin, Hall, Moore, Ajayi, Williams.

Injured/unavailable: Matthew Craig (suspended), Oliver Irow (international duty).

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: Spurs 0-2.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Rodrigo Ribeiro. The Sporting Clube de Portugal forward has really impressed in the UEFA Youth League so far this season, and he has scored five goals and provided two assists from four appearances in the competition this season.