Spurs loan watch: Alarm bells ringing for Tottenham youngster

Dane Scarlett's Oxford United counterparts recorded an impressive win at home to much-established Championship side Preston North End on matchday four in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

This win elevates the Yellows to 14th in the league, with two wins and two defeats in their first four Championship games. Pretty good for a newly promoted side. So, what's the issue?

The issue is that Scarlett watched the entire game from the bench. He did not even get a cameo towards the end of the game as he has done previously. The Spurs youngster was simply an unused sub by manager Des Buckingham.

It especially feels like a shame after he received his first start for the club in their midweek Carabao Cup tie.

The elephant in the room for the Spurs youngster is that his competition, Mark Harris, has started this season like a house on fire, scoring in all four of Oxford's Championship games so far this season.

Spurs loan watch: Alarm bells ringing for Tottenham youngster

Des Buckingham does not play a formation with two strikers, so it is hard to see how they can co-exist, particularly from the start of games. He has played a handful of games on the left wing in his career, so perhaps that is an avenue that could be explored this season, although Tyler Goodrham, who has been playing there, does have two goals already this season.

Spurs sent Scarlett on loan to Ipswich Town this time last year, and he returned in January having recorded zero starts in the league, and 12 substitute appearances. There is a concern that history may be repeating itself this year and that the club have not learned from past mistakes.

In better news, Scarlett has been called up to the England U20 squad for friendlies against Turkiye and Romania over the international break, where he will be joined by fellow Spurs youngster Ashley Phillips.

On that note, next up for the striker and his Oxford counterparts is a home game against Stoke and Phillips, after the international break.