16 hours ago
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Tottenham youngster Luca Williams-Barnett has landed the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for September despite only turning 17 last week.
The attacking midfielder, who made his Spurs debut for Thomas Frank's first team in the Carabao Cup third round tie against Doncaster, won the monthly prize for what is an U21 league despite his age. Williams-Barnett signed his first professional contract on his birthday at the start of this month.
He netted his first hat-trick at Premier League 2 level in a 6-3 victory at Leicester City last month while still 16, also providing an assist in that game. The youngster then sent in a corner from which Dane Scarlett set up Jun'ai Byfield to knock home the winning goal in a 1-0 home victory over West Bromwich Albion a week later.
After his impressive step up to join Wayne Burnett's development squad, the Premier League Football Development Panel named the teenager as the winner of the latest Player of the Month prize. His Tottenham U21s team-mate Rio Kyerematen was also shortlisted for the award after a strong month in the competition.
Frank said of William-Barnett's debut against Doncaster: "Very happy with that. I think it's always a pleasure to be part of a young player's debut. So, yeah, happy with that.
"Definitely over the last many years the focus on the talent development and academies across the world is so big. So the talent pool is bigger. There are these talents coming through that are younger and younger. But one thing is the debut when you're 16. The next step, and much more important, is how Luca or other players take those steps forward. It's very tough to keep going and then get into the first team as a really regular player. But the first step is very important."
If Williams-Barnett continues at his current pace and with the required work ethic, then there are high hopes for him to continue his first team exploits under Frank.
English (US) ·