With Tottenham set to play two friendlies in the next fortnight this could be a big chance for some young players to persuade Antonio Conte that they can make a contribution in the second half of the season.
Conte will now really start gearing up his players for the return of the Premier League after last week's fitness work for the non-World Cup stars. This Friday Spurs will welcome Scottish Premiership side Motherwell to their Hotspur Way training complex for a behind closed doors friendly, kicking off at 1pm.
Then on Wednesday, December 21, five days before the trip to Brentford, Tottenham are expected to host Ligue 1 side Nice in a friendly in front of the fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Here are seven young players that will be champing at the bit to show Conte in both matches that they can carry out his instructions to the letter.
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Djed Spence
Tottenham fans will be hoping to see the lesser spotted Djed Spence in action against the Scottish and French sides and this mini pre-season will have helped to continue his education under Conte.
The only problem for the 22-year-old is that both of his competitors for the right wing-back slot, Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty, have also been back and working with the Italian and his coaches. With Ryan Sessegnon back out on the grass after his injury against Liverpool, but not yet training with the squad, Doherty could be required on the left with Ivan Perisic still in Qatar with Croatia. That could hand Spence more minutes on the right.
Spence ticks all of the boxes to become a top level Conte wing-back. This might be the perfect chance in a match situation to show the Spurs head coach that he's taken on all of his instructions.
Bryan Gil
Another young player looking to prove he's ready for the now not the later is Bryan Gil. The 21-year-old has had some bright cameos this season but it hasn't led to anything more than 73 minutes of football, mostly coming on in the Champions League late on.
These friendlies will provide the Spaniard with a chance to push his claims as a back up to the big four up front and if not to Conte then to those considering making a loan move in January.
Pape Matar Sarr
With the World Cup players being given just over a week off after their time in Qatar ends, Pape Matar Sarr is unlikely to be available for Friday's friendly against Motherwell but he will be back for the game against Nice.
With Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp firmly in place as Conte's go to central midfield alternatives for Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the role of fifth midfielder in the pecking order to remain for the second half of the season is there for someone to take, if Spurs do not go into the transfer market for that position.
Sarr is yet to play a first team minute for Tottenham but did make two appearances at the World Cup for Senegal, with a bright 45 minutes against England. It all adds to the experience for the versatile 20-year-old and he will be looking to show Conte what he has learned.
With reports in Uruguay suggesting Bentancur will be out for three to four weeks with a small adductor muscle tear but suspended anyway for the Boxing Day match at Brentford, there could be some minutes to be had for Sarr against Nice and a bench role in the festive Premier League return.
Alfie Devine
One from the younger crop, talented 18-year-old Alfie Devine was all set for a loan move in the summer before suffering a hamstring injury in August. Since returning he's looked ready for some form of senior football with his academy performances, including three goals in five matches in the UEFA Youth League.
Spurs' youngest ever goalscorer following his FA Cup goal against Marine as a 16-year-old, Devine was named on the bench in three Premier League matches last season by Conte and one FA Cup game before heading off to win the European U19 Championships with England. With no development squad games until January, Devine will be hoping he gets some minutes against Motherwell at least on Friday.
Japhet Tanganga
At the other end of the young player scale, 23-year-old Japhet Tanganga has had a season so far to forget. AC Milan were interested in taking him in the summer but a move never materialised and the versatile centre-back has managed just 17 minutes of football since, from one substitute appearance in the Champions League.
The academy product needs minutes under his belt although like Gil, it might just be more to get himself a loan move in January if Spurs can line up a replacement.
Will Lankshear and Jamie Donley
A bit of a youth double here and mostly it's because of the absence of Tottenham's strikers who are at the World Cup. Harry Kane and Richarlison are hopefully not set to return any time soon while Son Heung-min will be back next week after South Korea's exit, which means Spurs are light on forwards in the mean time.
That could give either of Tottenham's talented strikers Will Lankshear and Jamie Donley a chance of some minutes under Conte. Lankshear arrived from Sheffield United in the summer for a deal that could be worth a reported £2.5m eventually and after recovering from a small injury he arrived with, the 6ft 1ins teenager has netted seven goals in 11 matches.
Donley has often been used in an attacking midfield role this season to develop his all round game but has still managed nine goal involvements from 21 games, with four goals and five assists.
Both have had training sessions with the first team and will be hoping for some friendly minutes in the next couple of weeks.
Harvey White
Bentancur's injury also opens up the chance for 21-year-old Harvey White to get some minutes for the first team in these two friendlies. Able to play at left-back as well, he might get a chance there before Sessegnon's full return to action.
The Spurs academy product has had to take on a watching role in recent seasons, named on the bench plenty of times by Conte but without a minute to his name under the Italian. Able to take a great set piece, the versatile young player will be looking to catch the head coach's eye and those looking to take him on loan.
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