Here at Vital Spurs, we like to take a regular look at how Tottenham’s loanees are getting on and this week we are starting with some good news.
That is because Harry Winks finally made his long-awaited return from injury, to make his first appearance for Sampdoria. The 26-year-old joined the Italian outfit on loan in the summer but an ankle injury had prevented him from featuring.
The Englishman made his return in a 29-minute cameo against Empoli as his side lost 1-0, then went on to surprise many as he played a full 90 mins six days later against Udinese. Hopefully, this good news can help kickstart Winks’ career again, after a difficult couple of years for the midfielder.
Winks of course came up against another Spurs loanee when he faced off against Udinese, with Destiny Udogie continuing to impress at only 20 years old. Despite not having his best game against Winks’ Sampdoria he still clocked up four tackles as well as providing two key passes (via SofaScore), showing yet again that he can provide at both ends of the pitch.
Staying in Italy, Tanguy Ndombele is still struggling to make a serious impact in Naples, so much so that Italian football expert Nicky Bandini told Sky Sports Transfer Talk that the Serie A league leaders ‘haven’t seen as much as they hoped’ (via HITC) regarding Ndombele’s performances.
It had been reported by FootMercato that Napoli were interested in a permanent deal for Ndombele, but it seems they may have turned their attention to other targets – namely Azzedine Ounahi, who was a stand-out player for Morocco at the World Cup.
Heading back to England now as it’s not all plain and sailing for Dane Scarlett at Portsmouth following Danny Cowley’s sacking earlier this month, minutes have come few and far between for youngster Dane Scarlett. John Mousinho was appointed as Pompey’s new boss on the 20th of January and since then the new boss has not played Scarlett at all, with the 18-year-old not seeing a single minute under the new boss. It is hoped Mousinho will soon realise Scarlett’s qualities as if he doesn’t the youngster may have to be recalled and sent elsewhere to find more minutes.
Another striker struggling for minutes is Troy Parrott, but that is down to the fact he has only recently returned from a knee injury – making two sub appearances for Preston as he eases his way back into Championship football.
In Spain, Spurs loanees Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Reguilon are struggling – with Lo Celso still on the treatment table with an injury that has kept him out for over a month. Unlike Lo Celso, Reguilon is not struggling with injuries, it is his performances which are struggling. That is because he was disappointingly sent off against in Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Almeria, the left-back had only been subbed on in the 67th minute but still managed to receive two bookings and be sent off in the 89th minute.