On Friday evening, Spurs teenager Archie Gray came on as a second half substitute, as England U21s lost 5-3 to France U21s in a thrilling game, full of players playing in the top five leagues – a game where Spurs winger Wilson Odobert picked up two assists.
For this game, when England hosted Portugal at the Hawthorns – home of West Bromwich Albion – Gray started the game, playing as a right-back, where he mostly played for Leeds United last season, and at times in cup competitions this season.
Archie Gray starts at right-back for England U21s on Monday evening
After seven minutes, Spurs linked Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough gave England the lead. Three minutes later, their lead was doubled – though Portugal got back in the game midway through the first half.
With just under twenty minutes remaining, Gray was substituted, having got through the game without any injuries. After three goals in the final 15 minutes of the game, the Young Lions would eventually run out 4-2 winners against their Portuguese counterparts in the West Midlands.
As for Gray himself, he recorded; two clearances, one blocked shot, 86 touches of the ball, 75/77 accurate passes, 1/1 accurate long balls, one big chance created, 3 out of 4 ground duels won, one foul drawn, and 2/2 successful dribble attempt.
The aforementioned Hackney was not the only Spurs linked player to feature, with Jarrad Branthwaite playing alongside Gray in the back four, as well as Adam Wharton and Liam Delap coming off the bench. The talent levels in that squad is pretty absurd, it has to be said.
So, over this break, Gray played a total of 83 minutes, not even a full game. Considering how overplayed he was being at one point, he has definitely had the chance to recharge the batteries, particularly considering he was an unused sub in the draw with Bournemouth, and only came off the bench in the second leg against AZ Alkmaar.
Ideally, he will now be fully ready to be able to help Spurs in the Europa League, starting with the quarter finals against Frankfurt. It would help to also be able to do so in the Premier League, but it doesn’t really matter at this stage, as awful as it is.
Anyway, Gray’s international break is now over, and he will return to Spurs. Quick sidenote; on the topic of rest, and players returning to Spurs, Dominic Solanke was an unused sub in both of England’s games during this break, and will be fully fresh for the final stretch of the season.