Tottenham academy starlet Jamie Donley has been thriving on loan at Leyton Orient
Tottenham Hotspur have some really exciting young players and academy products that Ange Postecoglou wants to nurture by giving opportunities.
The 59-year-old has trusted the youngsters and given them opportunities to express themselves since becoming the club’s head coach last year. And it has been reflected through Spurs’ recruitment, transfer policy and vision as well, with highly-rated talents such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert all deciding to join Ange Postecoglou’s forces at N17.
Big Ange is very well aware of which youngsters are ahead in their progression and should continue training with the first team and which aren’t still ready and could do well with a loan. As a result, he sanctioned loan moves for quite a few academy talents and youngsters in the past summer transfer window. One of those was Jamie Donley.
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Jamie Donley joined Football League One side Leyton Orient on a season-loan loan from Tottenham in August. Part of our club’s famed academy since 2013, the teenager made his Premier League debut for Spurs last December against Manchester City—one of four senior appearances he’s made so far. He also has made seven appearances for England’s under-19 side, scoring five goals.
After signing a new contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month that tied him with the club until 2029 (Transfermarkt), Donley headed out on loan to Leyton Orient. The forward has started three out of the club’s four league fixtures for, amassing 250 minutes. The young Englishman was an unused substitute in Leyton’s 1-0 away league win over Reading on Saturday.
John Wenham, the reliable owner of the Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose, says he has heard only positive things about Donley at Leyton. In an exclusive interview with Tottenham News, he has detailed what has been spoken about the teenager behind the scenes within the League One outfit.
“Donley is doing well at Leyton Orient,” Wenham said.
“There have been some comments from supporters because the team aren’t doing well overall.
“However, from everything I hear, the club’s coaching staff have been really impressed with him thus far. He’s getting plenty of minutes every week. Therefore, I think this was a really good move for him.”
Leyton finally registered their first win of the season against Reading last weekend and Donley didn’t get any minutes in the game—such an irony! Nonetheless, it should be pleasing for the Tottenham bosses to hear Wenham’s latest comments on Donley.
The prodigious talent has performed well at the League One club so far, even though he has yet to score or assist a goal. Plus, he would have been disappointed to not get any minutes under his belt in Leyton’s 1-0 win over Reading. That said, Donley must take this on his chin and push hard to reclaim his starting berth under manager Richie Wellens.
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Our club must always help the academy kids pick the right loan destinations to develop, and it looks like Donley has picked just the right club.
