Tottenham Hotspur have been finding it difficult to get the full three points against teams they should be beating if they want to safely secure a top four place in an increasingly competitive Premier League - or be a realistic threat in the Champions League.
Spurs drew Brighton, Wolves, and Bodo Glimt in their last three non-League Cup outings, recently benefiting from an own goal to get that equalizing second in the Champions League against a non-top five league side.
The contributions from the striker position have been nowhere near adequate with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani still slow to return from injuries, as Richarlison's hot start to the 2025/26 campaign has been already mooted by several horrendous performances.
With Mathys Tel looking more like a left winger and both Solanke and Kolo Muani out of action, the only other out-and-out striker besides Richarlison on the roster is young Dane Scarlett, a 21-year-old prospect who has made a senior appearance for Spurs in the past in the cup.
Tottenham are thin at striker
Anyone thinking Scarlett is ready for starts at the Premier League level or will be an upgrade on Richarlison is probably deluding themselves, but it's not far fetched to think that the U23 forward could get some minutes soon if RKM and Solanke aren't back and if Richarlison continues to offer very little up top.
There's no harm in trying something new at striker and seeing what Scarlett can do if nothing is currently working, and if Spurs struggle to put a goal past Leeds by the time 60 minutes rolls around, it's not inconceivable at all for Thomas Frank to pepper in a little Scarlett to try and coax something out of the game at striker.
Hopefully, it doesn't come to that, but, at the same time, is it really that bad to put some faith in a youth player? Tottenham are a club built on young talents, and some of their best ever players have been homegrown stars. Scarlett could be a great striker, you never know. More specifically, you never know what someone is capable of until they are in the fire, and that goes for the good just as well as it does for the bad.
The opportunity is there for Scarlett to sneak in and get some legitimate Premier League minutes at striker. Richarlison is frustrating everyone again, and, well, there isn't a real alternative in the squad besides the unknown commodity, Dante Scarlett.