Scott Parker on Tottenham’s Harry Winks: He has good quality
Harry Winks ‘rise from Tottenham’s youth ranks to the first team has been nothing short of spectacular, though for former Spurs player Scott Parker, it wasn’t surprising to see.
Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Fulham marked Harry Winks’ 27th appearance for the 21-year-old in all competitions this season for Tottenham.
A sure sign that Winks is one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most trusted players to deliver a solid shift whether he’s starting or coming off of the bench.
It’s something that former Spurs player Scott Parker noticed a long time ago about the young midfielder. That Harry Winks has always had good quality from his youth days.
“I always knew he had good quality and he played very well, I said that to him after the game, I thought he was fantastic,” Parker said.
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“Technically he’s very good and he has a bit of drive about him, he can get away from opponents. He’s got that little shimmy and that can give him a yard of space”
“At this level, that’s what you need because the game happens so quickly.”
“He certainly looks the part. He’s obviously in a very good team with an unbelievable manager who will give him an opportunity. He’s got every chance.”
“He’s [a] good lad as well, gets his head down and works. I’ve no doubt he can go to the top.”
Such praise has been well warranted for Harry Winks as he has shown all of the qualities that Scott Parker talked about since first bursting onto the scene two years ago in the Europa League.
With Spurs holding onto a 1-0 lead against Partizan, Mauricio Pochettino decided to use his third and final sub to give some invaluable minutes to Harry Winks. It was a brief three-minute stint, but even then, Winks didn’t look out of his element.
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Certainly, since three Europa League appearances the past two years combined, and training with Tottenham’s first team all last season, it’s no surprise that Harry Winks has been one of Spurs’ bright spots this term.
Even becoming a potential starter alongside either Victor Wanyama or Mousa Dembélé in all competitions to form a solid three-man central midfield and giving someone rest when needed.
That’s the kind of quality that the 21-year-old has had since day one. It’s why Scott Parker believes Winks is a special player to break into a Premier League team who is fighting for a top four spot.
Not many players are given that kind of opportunity, and even for Pochettino, who is known to give players a chance to prove themselves but only if they prove it on the training ground, obviously Harry Winks has been doing something good since last season. And even more so following his first team debut three years ago.
“It’s not easy, especially in this Spurs team,” Scott Parker explained, about how tough it is to break into a Premier League club.
“It might be a different story if you are in a bottom 10 team, maybe you could understand him getting a chance but in the top four in the Premier League, for a 21-year-old to get a chance and to be playing regularly says a lot about him.”
“As much as anything, it says what the manager thinks of him and what he’s done already. Full credit to him.”
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Winks has made a solid breakthrough in Mauricio Pochettino’s team and even at the age of 21, he’s still learning and could use some advice when needed. If the central midfielder is seeking some pointers, Scott Parker is willing to lend a hand as he has done when the 36-year-old used to play for Tottenham back in the day.
“Harry was a young lad when I was at Spurs and starting my coaching and when I first saw him play I thought technically, he’s very good. I just try to help him whenever I can, try to give him advice and just try to help him as much as I can.”