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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Ange Postecoglou may opt for youth as international forward 'lacking some confidence'

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou is poised to make a bold decision as he considers giving 17-year-old Mikey Moore the chance to shine in the English Premier League, potentially replacing the struggling Timo Werner.

With Spurs facing Crystal Palace on Sunday, Postecoglou's could turn to youth as he looks to reignite his squad’s attacking prowess.

Werner, currently on loan from RB Leipzig, has endured a challenging stint at Spurs, failing to score in his last 16 appearances.

His recent performance in Thursday's 1-0 UEFA Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar was particularly disappointing, culminating in his substitution at half-time after squandering a significant scoring opportunity.

(Image: PA) With captain Son Heung-min nursing muscle soreness and uncertain for the upcoming match, Postecoglou is exploring alternatives to bolster his attack.

Enter Moore, who made a compelling case for inclusion with an impressive second-half display against AZ Alkmaar.

After Werner’s exit, Moore switched to his preferred left wing position and demonstrated remarkable skill and composure for such a young player, leaving Postecoglou with a tantalising dilemma.

The winger’s performance not only showcased his potential but also highlighted the urgency for Spurs to find a spark in the final third.

If Son is unable to recover in time, Postecoglou may well opt to hand Moore his Premier League debut, a decision that could inject fresh energy and creativity into the line-up. 


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“We are talking to Timo constantly,” the former Celtic boss said ahead of Sunday's trip to Selhurst Park. 

“We understand he is lacking some confidence at the moment and everyone has been working hard at that, but with all these things, ultimately it’s incumbent on him to use as much support he’s got around here to get himself out of it.

“Our role in that is to provide that support whether that’s internally or externally, whatever he needs.

“Obviously it’s then up to him to try to use that to get him back to the levels where he wants to be and where he can contribute for us.

“Like I said, with all the players what we try to do is provide an environment where should they need help, it’s readily available.

“We do need output and that’s the key part. Obviously when Mikey was on with Brennan (Johnson), we were a threat on both wings and we were getting outcomes from it.

“We didn’t score but three or four really good chances came from it and we need that to happen with the way we play.

“Whilst the general play is important and Timo has done well, we still need more in that front third and we got it in the second half.”

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