Tottenham Hotspur academy starlet Junai Byfield has been given chance to train with the first-team squad

According to Lilywhite Rose via Instagram, Tottenham Hotspur under-16 central defender Junai Byfield has been training with the first team earlier this week.

Ange Postecoglou, in his second season in north London, is preparing for the club’s pre-season tour. While many of the first-team players have returned to the squad, there are still some stars away from the club and busy participating in the ongoing Euro 2024 and Copa America.

The busy international schedule has given a great opportunity for the young talents of Tottenham Hotspur to make an impression on Ange Postecoglou in the upcoming pre-season tour. While academy talents such as Mikey Moore, Frankie Day and Will Lankshear among others are expected to be with the first-team squad for the pre-season, the news of Junai Byfield training with the senior squad will certainly excite the Tottenham fans.

Byfield has been playing for Spurs under-18 side consistently even though he is still a season away from starting as a scholar at the club. Tall, strong in the air and composed on the ball, the Standard claims that the teenager is very highly rated around the academy and has already been called up by England youth sides.

For Spurs fans who may not know much about Byfield, Tottenham expert and owner of the podcast Lilywhite Rose John Wenham has hailed him as “an outstanding talent who will continue to play above his age level next season.”

Byfield has starred for Spurs under-18s this past term and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with Postecoglou promoting him currently to train with the senior team. The Australian tactician is on the hunt for young talents who could step up from the academy and into the first-team fold in the coming years.

Going by Byfield’s rise in the academy, it is unsurprising to see him get an opportunity to train under Postecoglou and his staff, especially with first-choice defenders such as Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin featuring in the Euro 2024 and Copa America and not returning to the club sooner.

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With Spurs not boasting of great depth in central defence, the young Englishman must make the most of his time with the senior squad and gain valuable experience. Even if he may be a few years away from the first-team picture, Byfield training with the first team at such a tender age is indeed proof of his capability and potential.

Spurs fans will be excited to watch a few glimpses of Byfield in the upcoming pre-season tour, as Postecoglou looks to build on his fine debut season in north London.