Spurs loan watch: Great week for Tottenham youngster

Ashley Phillips and his new loan side, Stoke City, made it two wins from two with a 1-0 win away to former loan club Plymouth Argyle, managed by Wayne Rooney.

Stoke had won 5-0 against Middlesbrough on Phillips' debut in the second round of the Carabao Cup in midweek and managed to go again and follow up with another victory, despite so much traveling up and down the country this week.

Just like in midweek, Phillips started in defence in central defence, though this time he was partnered by Stoke City captain Ben Wilmot, rather than fellow teenager Jaden Dixon.

Also in a similar fashion to the win against Middlesbrough, Phillips was substituted with around 15 minutes to go in the game, 76 minutes in on Tuesday, and 74 minutes in today, being replaced by the experienced Ben Gibson on this occasion.

Spurs loan watch: Great week for Tottenham youngster

In the 74 minutes he was on the pitch, Phillips recorded; seven clearances, one interception, 5/7 ground duels won, four fouls won, and 1/1 successful dribbles. His stats make for unusual reading, winning most of his ground duels, and completing a dribble, but losing both aerial duels, all whilst standing at around 6'4 tall.

Although he was substituted before Stoke's winner, it was still an impressive display from the Spurs loanee and in both games, where he has been substituted each time, he has still played enough minutes (60+) to count as an official clean sheet for the defender. This comes after he was an unused substitute in their 2-1 defeat at home to West Bromich Albion last weekend.

With the win, Stoke have risen to 10th in the Championship table, just one point off the play-offs.

Next up for the Potters is a game against Dane Scarlett and Oxford United after the international break. In the meantime, however, Phillips has been called up to the England U20 squad for friendly games against Turkiye and Romania next month. The aforementioned Scarlett has also been included in the squad, so they could play with and against each other within a number of days.