Tottenham Hotspur have a plethora of young players in their ranks at White Hart Lane, and with the blessing of having ample potential stars on the roster, let’s bring that added responsibility to ensure that each of them is taking strides in their game, and one of the players that Daniel Levy has to look into is centre-back Ashley Phillips, who has been struggling to gain minutes under his belt in his loan spell at Stoke City.
The owner of the reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose, John Wenham, has expressed his disappointment given the fact that one of the more highly rated defenders in the Spurs ranks has spent substantial time on the bench for his loan club.
Spurs need to act on Phillips’ loan situation
Phillips has featured only twice in the England second tier since moving to Stoke in a loan move in August, and Wenham argues that the fact that the 19-year-old spends regular time with the Three Lions Under-20 camp means he needs to remain a regular wherever he plays.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Tottenham News, Wenham said:
“For Phillips, it was another disappointing weekend. He has spent a lot of time on the bench this season. However, when he went away with the England Under-20s, he played every game for them.
“Therefore, it is concerning that he isn’t starting regularly for Stoke at the moment.”
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To put things into perspective, the teenager started his first game in the Championship for his temporary employers on 31 August, when the Potters enjoyed a 1-0 win against Plymouth Argyle; however, the Tottenham Academy graduate didn’t feature again in the competition until last Saturday, i.e., 26 October.
This needs to either change or the Tottenham chiefs have to rethink his situation and possibly change his loan destination in the upcoming winter transfer window.
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Wenham is right, and it’s crucial for the Lilywhites to ensure that talented players like Phillips are getting the game time they need to develop.
