Tottenham's Dane Scarlett has been making waves recently, and his latest performance might have just secured his place in the squad for the rest of the season.
The young striker has spent the first half of the campaign away from North London, but circumstances have shifted, opening up a new opportunity for him at Spurs.
Scarlett's return to the first team setup comes at a crucial time for Tottenham, with injuries affecting key players in the squad.
While many expected him to go out on another loan spell, a key moment in the Europa League may have changed his immediate future.
Dane Scarlett’s return and Europa League impact
Dane Scarlett was recalled from his loan at Championship side Oxford United earlier this month, having made 22 appearances and scoring four goals during his time there.
Despite speculation that he might head out on loan again, his involvement in Thursday night's Europa League fixture against Elfsborg has ensured he will remain at Spurs for the rest of the season.
The 19-year-old came off the bench in the 66th minute to replace the injured Radu Dragusin. Just four minutes later, Scarlett made his presence felt, scoring with a well-placed header inside the box to put Tottenham ahead.
His goal not only helped Spurs secure a crucial victory but also effectively ended any chances of him going out on loan again this season.
Due to FIFA regulations, players are only allowed to play for two clubs in a single season.
Before his appearance against Elfsborg, Scarlett had yet to feature for Tottenham this campaign, meaning he was still eligible for another loan move.
However, now that he has played, he will remain at the club for the remainder of the season.
A bigger role for Dane Scarlett?
With injuries affecting Tottenham’s options, Scarlett’s presence could be vital in the coming months.
Dominic Solanke is currently sidelined, and with Spurs dealing with various squad shortages, keeping Scarlett in the first-team setup seems like a logical decision.
There have also been reports of Tottenham pursuing Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, with a €60 million bid allegedly accepted.
If that transfer falls through, Scarlett could find himself playing an even bigger role in the team.
Speaking to Football London, Postecoglou said: "We had a look at his situation. He has had a couple of disappointing loans.
" I think sending him out again without any sort of real prospect of him developing, we just felt let’s keep him training with us and give him an opportunity to train with us and play with us and see how it goes."