Former Nottingham Forest defender Alan Hutton has predicted an early Tottenham exit for Djed Spence after struggling to break into Antonio Conte's side.
Spence, 22, joined the north London side in the summer for £20 million from Middlesbrough after playing a starring role in Forest's promotion to the Premier League last campaign. He appeared 46 times in total for Steve Cooper's side, scoring three goals and assisting a further five.
However, since joining Spurs, Spence has managed only one minute of action. He came on in injury-time against Forest in the 2-0 victory at the City Ground. He has also been left out of Conte's 20-man squad on four occasions.
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Spence has fierce competition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at right wing-back. Emerson Royal and fellow summer signing Ivan Perisic have both been preferred by Conte in the opening seven games of the season. Matt Doherty is also at the club, although the former Wolves man has not featured in the league since the opening day.
Hutton, who made 66 appearances for Spurs, has tipped the England under-21 international to leave the capital in search of regular football in January. Speaking to Football Insider, the Scotsman described Spence's situation at Spurs as "weird".
"It is a weird one," he said.
"When Spence signed, I thought he was a great talent. He was brilliant at Nottingham Forest. I thought he was ready for the Premier League.
"But then you hear Antonio Conte coming out and saying it was not his signing, it was a club signing and one for the future.
“It has not gone to plan for Spence which is a shame because he has ability. If this continues towards January he is going to have to look to get out on loan and play. He is too good to sit on the bench.
“You do not want that to effect him moving forward. He will want to be playing week in, week out. If that means going out on loan and coming back a better player so be it.”
Would you take Spence back at the City Ground in January? Have your say in the comments...
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