Fans brimming with joy as Ange Postecoglu announced highly rated star will be given final opportunity to play today
Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up to face Queens Park Rangers in their third pre-season friendly, which promises to be an exciting match. Spurs have been in excellent form during their pre-season campaign, starting with a resounding 7-2 victory over Cambridge United and following it up with an impressive 5-1 win against Hearts. Manager Ange Postecoglou has already seen plenty of positives and will be eager to continue this momentum against QPR on Saturday afternoon.
One player in particular, Djed Spence, may see this match as a pivotal moment in his career. Tottenham signed Spence in the summer of 2022 when Antonio Conte was still in charge, outbidding several other clubs for the ‘unbelievable’ defender, who was regarded as one of the top young prospects in the country. Despite this promising start, Spence has struggled to make an impact at Tottenham, playing only 43 minutes of senior football since his arrival.
This summer, it seemed likely that Spence would leave the club, with a move to Genoa on the cards. However, that transfer fell through, and he rejoined Tottenham for pre-season training. Given an opportunity by Postecoglou against Hearts, Spence delivered a standout performance, scoring a goal and providing an assist, earning a perfect 10/10 rating from TBR Football.
Despite his impressive display, Postecoglou’s post-match comments were cautious, suggesting that Spence’s future at the club was still uncertain. The manager said, “Djed did well. He has had a tough couple of years. He is training with us and I think with all of the players they are here with us at the moment and when they are here with us I treat them as Tottenham players unless something suddenly changes.”
As Tottenham prepare for their last pre-season friendly before heading to Japan and South Korea, Spence is expected to feature again. This game could be his final chance to convince Postecoglou that he deserves a place on the pre-season tour and, potentially, a role in the squad for the 2024/25 season.
Tottenham face an interesting dilemma with Spence. Initially, it seemed inevitable that the 23-year-old would leave the club this summer. However, his performance against Hearts has offered a glimmer of hope. If Emerson Royal, who has expressed dissatisfaction with his playing time, departs in the coming weeks, Tottenham will need to find a replacement.
Should Spence impress again against QPR and earn his spot on the tour, there is a strong case for giving him a chance to prove himself in the upcoming season. We believe Tottenham should retain Spence beyond the summer transfer window and allow him a season to demonstrate his potential as a valuable squad member, providing competition for Pedro Porro.
Ultimately, the decision on Spence’s future could hinge on his performance against QPR, making this match not just another friendly, but a crucial opportunity for a player looking to revive his career at Tottenham.