Spurs loan watch: Perfect debut for Tottenham defender

As debuts go, last night could not have gone much better for Ashley Phillips if he tried.

Having joined Stoke City on a season-long loan deal last week, Phillips was an unused substitute at the weekend in The Potters 2-1 home defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion.

However, manager Steven Schumacher gave Phillips his debut last night, as Stoke travelled to fellow Championship side Middlesbrough in the second round of the Carabao Cup, managed by former Spurs player Michael Carrick.

Phillips was handed a start for his debut, as Stoke showed five of the best, absolutely hammering their Teesside hosts and last years semi finalists 5-0.

By the 70th minute, Stoke had scored all five of their goals and were absolutely cruising and then some into the next round of the Carabao Cup. After 76 minutes, Phillips was replaced by William Smith, as Schumacher started to turn his focus to the next game - with this one already done and dusted.

The perfect debut for Spurs young central defender

In those 76 minutes, Phillips recorded; one clearance, two blocked shots, three interceptions, two recoveries, 3/3 long balls, two passes into the final third, one chance created, one shot, and zero times dispossessed.

One Stoke City fan referred to Phillips as a “high-paced brick wall” in a glowing endorsement. Sounds like a good fit for AngeBall.

Stoke’s next outing is back in the League, with a trip to Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, 15:00 BST, 10:00 ET. Plymouth is where Phillips spent the second half of the 23/24 season out on loan, and where Stoke recruited manager Steven Schumacher from.

Then comes the international break, where Stoke will return from a game against Dane Scarlett’s Oxford City. Should Scarlett come into the side for that game, we could well see the two Tottenham youngsters in direct competition with each other.