Tottenham youngster Jamie Donley will be keen to make a mark in the pre-season under new boss Thomas Frank
Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-season tour is looming large and fans will be extremely excited to see the new signings in action as well as several youngsters get opportunities to impress.
Thomas Frank has plenty of work ahead of him as he bids to get his Spurs squad prepared for the new season. And that work starts in the pre-season, as there will be a likely desire from the players to turn things around after they underperformed so drastically in the Premier League last term.
The preparations during pre-season will allow the Danish tactician to assess his new squad and several players who spent the last season out on loan will also get a chance to impress him. Jamie Donley certainly will be one to watch out for.
The 20-year-old joined Leyton Orient on a season-long loan and took League One by storm last season. He was one of the standout performers for Leyton Orient, netting eight goals and laying a further 10 assists in 42 appearances. The creative midfielder grabbed the headlines with his stunning long-range goal in the FA Cup against Manchester City, for which he received glowing praise from Pep Guardiola.
Jamie Donley backed to get chances in the pre-season tour
For his impressive displays, Jamie Donley was named the Orient’s Young Player of the Season and voted their Player of the Season by supporters. As a result, the youngster is expected to be given an opportunity in the pre-season, as per reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham. He feels Donley will be given the chance to play in his preferred position.
“Donley is obviously an outstanding player,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“He had a very good load at Leyton Orient last year and has played four or five times for Tottenham’s first team already.
“I fully back him to have benefited massively from playing men’s football last year, and I imagine he would be confident slotting into the first team now, especially when you think that James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have had some injuries and are maybe not up and running yet.
“There’s a great chance for Donley to play in preseason in his natural role as a creative attacking midfield player, rather than a left-back, a position which we saw him play before. However, he got on with that, no dramas, as he always will.”
Jamie Donley may be loaned out again
The addition of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, as well as the potential acquisition of Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, means that Frank has several players who can operate as a No.10 in his system. Donley, too, thrives as an attacking midfielder, as evidenced by his performances at Leyton last season.
With James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski set to return from injuries at some point in the 2025/26 season, Frank would have a lot of creative options in his team. Of course, it will be great to have options to deal with the gruelling campaign, but that could hurt Donley’s development. So, it would be best for the Spurs academy starlet to go out on loan again- this time in the Championship and gain some valuable experience.
