Djed Spence’s lack of first-team minutes this season is down to him not being “ready” for Premier League football, according to Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte.
Former Nottingham Forest loan star Spence has made just one appearance for Spurs since joining from Middlesbrough in July. Ironically, that came against Forest, with the 22-year-old introduced as an 89th-minute substitute in the 2-0 win in late August.
He failed to make the squad for the subsequent games against Fulham and Leicester but was back on the bench for Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. Emerson Royal’s sending off led to calls from fans for him to be introduced but despite Conte utilising his full quota of substitutes, Spence remained unused.
