Dane Scarlett is quickly making a big name for himself on the south coast. Linking up with League One side Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal at the end of July, the Tottenham youngster has already caught the eye of those regularly watching at Fratton Park.
Rated incredibly highly by Jose Mourinho and given his Spurs bow by the Portuguese after wowing at Hotspur Way, the striker was also a regular on the bench under Antonio Conte last term, but he could only offer him a few minutes here and there. Needing a loan move to help aid his development, Portsmouth won the race for his signature amid interest from a number of clubs.
Seeing Troy Parrott head to the Championship in his first loan spell and struggle for minutes before recalling him and sending him to League One, Spurs clearly believe that the division is best for Scarlett's progression at present. They certainly look to have made the right call with the striker going on his impressive displays for Pompey.
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Eased into action off the bench by Danny Cowley, to begin with, the 18-year-old started in the excellent 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Championship side Cardiff City before taking his place in the XI against Cheltenham Town and Cambridge United. Dropped down to the bench for last Saturday's 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers, Scarlett was introduced in the 64th minute and had a crucial role to play in his team's third of the day as Owen Dale finished off his fantastic cross from the right flank.
Returning to the side on Tuesday night in their cup tie away at Newport County, Scarlett again took his chance, notably in the first half, and played 64 minutes in their 3-2 defeat. The starlet may have yet to find the back of the net in his seven games for his new club, but his manager is confident that they will soon start to flow.
"I thought Dane Scarlett was unplayable first half," Cowley told the club's official website. "I think he is only one goal away from scoring an awful lot of goals at this level."
While strikers are ultimately judged on how many goals they score, nobody should have any worries at all about Scarlett as he adapts to life in League One. The goals will most certainly come for him, as Cowley has already pointed out, and he may indeed go on a goal glut once he registers his maiden strike for Portsmouth.
Just last week, a video doing the rounds on social media highlighted just how much Scarlett is already adored by the Portsmouth faithful. Making his way past the Fratton End following his substitution just past the hour mark in their 4-1 triumph over Cambridge United, the frontman was given a standing ovation and received a loud rendition of 'Super Dane, Super Dane, Super Dane Scarlett' from the fans for his efforts.
Clearly making an impression on his new teammates after looking right at home in League One despite his tender years, Scarlett has also wowed his manager in their first month working together.
"I think Dane, against the ball, is 'wow'. For an 18-year-old, his understanding of how to defend from the front, and the speed and aggression that he can go and press the ball, is like he's got the eye of the tiger," the Pompey boss is quoted as saying in The Portsmouth News.
"He's got this ruthless streak to his game, both against the ball – how quickly he gets up to it – but also then his movement and his reactive quality. In training, he's looked really exciting, and it's lovely from our perspective. We're so privileged to be able to wake up every morning and be able to come in and watch such a young talent grow and develop."
Scarlett is clearly doing everything right at present to impress at Portsmouth, and that first goal in senior football he desperately craves will come soon enough. If it is to come on Saturday away at Port Vale, the likes of Peterborough, Barnsley and Burton Albion will not be looking forward to trying to keep the striker quiet in the league come September.
Conte and Tottenham should be very excited about what is to come for Scarlett on the south coast.
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