Tottenham boss Thomas Frank offers strong advice to Archie Gray ahead of his return to Leeds United
Archie Gray has endured a mixed time at Tottenham Hotspur since joining from Leeds United in 2024.
Regarded as one of the brightest English prospects, Archie Gray’s signing has been a coup of sorts for the Lilywhites. Due to a seismic injury crisis last season, the youngster was used all across the defensive unit by former boss Ange Postecoglou. He played mostly out of position but that did help him gain valuable experience, racking up 46 appearances.
With Thomas Frank at the helm, the England youth international has been trying to impress his new gaffer and clock regular minutes under his belt. However, he has struggled for consistent minutes since the start of the 2025/26 season. Since starting Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Burnley at home on the opening weekend, Archie Gray has mustered just a minute of Premier League action.
Thomas Frank speaks about Gray’s development at Tottenham
Thomas Frank has already revealed what he feels is Gray’s best position at Tottenham. The teenager has fallen behind the likes of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in the midfield pecking order, while Lucas Bergvall’s meteoric rise is apparently doing him no favours at the moment.
Ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Leeds United, which will see Gray return to his boyhood club on Saturday, Frank was asked about the teenage prodigy’s development. The Spurs gaffer said:
“He’s [Gray] still a very young man. He played a lot of Premier League minutes [last season], across the defence and in midfield. So many experiences, some tough moments and in those you develop. I really, really like him as a player.
“He needs to keep doing as he’s doing. Came on against Bodo, part of making a difference, he did well against Doncaster and learned a lot. I like everything about him.”
Gray is admired by his Spurs gaffer
Gray has been the victim of intense competition in both defence and midfield, leading to lack of regular opportunities so far this season. Against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup third round, many assumed that the youngster would partner Kevin Danso in central defence. However, it turned out to be Palhinha slotting in at centre-back alongside Danso, with Frank providing Gray a rare opportunity to impress from his preferred midfield position.
When trailing 2-1 to Bodo/Glimt in Norway earlier this week, the Durham-born talent came off the bench and made an impact. It was his shot which forced Jostein Gundersen’s 89th-minute own goal, helping the Lilywhites to salvage a crucial point in the Champions League’s league phase. Opportunities have been limited under new Frank but Gray has shown glimpses of his potential.
Having nurtured several talents and helped experienced players take their game to the next level at his former club Brentford, Frank appears to be the right man to unlock Gray’s potential. Reading between the lines from the Dane’s statement, the English talent must continue working hard and chances will automatically come for him.