Tottenham must live up to Marcus Edwards’ expectations

Tottenham owe a debut to wunderkind academy product Marcus Edwards at some point this season.

After Tottenham delivered two successive contract renewals in as many years, the 18-year-old deserves to earn a chance to live up to his considerable hype.

That is especially true after reports came out Tuesday from the Sun that Edwards was the subject of a bid this summer from Ajax.

Per that report, the only reason Edwards did not force that move to the famously youth-oriented Dutch side was because he feels that he has a chance with Tottenham’s first team this season.

That assumption was no doubt reinforced by promises made by the club itself. In the past Mauricio Pochettino has made a point to talk up Edwards’ potential, at one time even comparing him to Lionel Messi.

With the player turning 19 this December, it seems high time for Spurs to live up to Edwards’ expectations and permit him time with the first team. His performances for the under-21 side this season alone should justify that, especially his wonderful goal against Manchester United last week.

That means occasional substitute appearances in the league and perhaps the odd start in domestic cup competitions. It also, most importantly, affords Edwards a chance to train with his senior teammates.

Harry Winks, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Josh Onomah all benefited from such experience among the first team, and all three can expect to play meaningful minutes this season — even if, in the case of the latter two, they will come away from Tottenham.

It speaks to Pochettino’s cult of personality that Edwards was willing to decline more playing time at Ajax for even just the chance to make his debut at Tottenham this season. His commitment to Spurs comes at a time when many other Premier League clubs are struggling to convince their own hot prospects to stay on board.

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It’s been a summer of upheaval in Premier League youth systems. First Dominic Solanke left Chelsea for a free transfer to Liverpool, then Manchester City’s top rated forward Jadon Sancho made the move to Borussia Dortmund last week. Neither club could realistically promise those young English players time on the pitch in the coming season, and perhaps not even beyond that.

In that sense, their lack of attacking reinforcements this summer works in Spurs’ favor. Were Isco or Max Meyer or Keita Balde to make the move over, it would likely delay or outright deny any opportunity players like Edwards have of making it into the first team. He too might have joined in the exodus this summer.

Thankfully, at least from Edwards’ perspective, there is more room now than ever for him to make his mark. He will still need to contend with the likes of Heung-min Son, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli for a shot, and that’s assuming that Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kévin Nkoudou don’t make the most of the second shot they have been given.

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He will look to Dele’s experience with Tottenham for encouragement however. The England midfielder made his own debut for Spurs at 19, and despite plenty of competition he carved out a spot for himself in the starting XI. If Edwards lives up to even a fraction of his own hype, he too might enjoy a similarly meteoric rise.