Tottenham loanee Jamie Donley backed to break into Stoke City’s first XI after October international break
We saw Tottenham Hotspur making decisions on the futures of several youngsters and academy talents during the summer transfer window. Many of those have gone out on loan and are doing well, with Luka Vuskovic in the Bundesliga the prime example. However, there are a few young talents who have struggled to make a mark at their respective clubs.
Mikey Moore has not got going at all on loan at Rangers. The teenager struggled for regular minutes under manager Russell Martin, who has been relieved off his duties by Rangers after a disastrous start to the 2025/26 season. With Steven Gerrard closing in on a return to the Ibrox to replace Russell Martin, Moore would hope his fortunes in Scotland changes and he kickstarts his loan spell.
Another Spurs talent who has not flourished out on loan is Jamie Donley. The creative midfielder joined Stoke City on a season-long loan in August. He made the move to Stoke City after a successful spell at Leyton Orient last term, where he bagged eight League One goals and supplied 10 assists as he fired his side to the play-off final, but fell short against Charlton Athletic.
Jamie Donley backed to break into Stoke City’s XI
However, the 20-year-old’s loan at Stoke has not gone as per the plan. Donley has started both Carabao Cup games, but he is yet to be named in Stoke’s starting XI in the Championship. The attacking midfielder was an unused substitute in six successive games before he got nine minutes off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
The four-cap Northern Ireland international has mustered only 49 minutes of action across three Championship outings, bagging an assist thus far. At the international stage, Donley has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad, and he could be involved in the crucial upcoming World Cup qualifiers at home to Slovakia and Germany.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has been monitoring Donley’s progress on loan at the Bet365 Stadium. He has backed the young midfielder to break into the Potters’ side sooner rather than later, wanting to see him get more minutes.
“I always think it’s hard. Jamie does pre-season with Spurs. He goes to Stoke. The season’s started. All of those things. He may have been there just for the first game of the season but he’s in the building two days and then he’s on the bench,” O’Neill was quoted by Belfast Telegraph ahead of Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier vs Slovakia.
“I know that they obviously were desperate to get him in conversations with the relevant people there at Stoke.
“I would like to see him get more minutes because I think when he comes in with us, he’s still finding his feet a little bit. We see a young player who’s just turned 20 with a really high ceiling point.
“Like anything, he needs minutes. That’s the way these players improve because it’s a lot coming into an international environment if you haven’t been playing.”
Tottenham must call Donley back if his situation at Stoke does not change
Stoke may have started the campaign well and sit third in the Championship table, but there is no point keeping Donley there when he is majorly warming the benches. He was sent on loan to find regular minutes and get Championship experience. However, things have not gone as per the script.
Should Donley’s situation with the Potters does not change after the international break, Spurs must cut short his loan in January. A new loan could be sorted out for the second half of the season, or if Frank deems the Antrim-born talent can act as cover for the likes of Xavi Simons and Lucas Bergvall in the No.10 role, he could stay at Spurs.
