Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou suggested that young forward Dane Scarlett has a part to play for the club between now and the end of the season. (More Football News)
Scarlett, who ꦗis 20 years old, had spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Championship side Oxford United, but was recalled earlier in January and came off the bench to score the opener in the Europa League at home to Elfsborg on Thursday.
He was one of three Tottenham academy graduates to find the net agai🔯nst the Swedish side, with Oyin⛄damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore also bagging goals.
Having got on the pitch in the 3-0 victory, Scarlett can no longer play anywhere other than Tottenham or Oxford this sea💮son, owing to FIFA's rules about playing for more than two clubs in a season.
"We ha🍰d a look at his situation," manager Ange Postecoglou explained. "He has had a couple of disappointing loans. I think sending him out again without any sort of real prospect o𒐪f him developing, we just felt to keep him training with us and give him an opportunity to play and see how it goes."
The decision to keep Scarlett in the group for the remainder of the campaign has prove༒d a popular one with players. Dejan Kulusevski was upbeat about his return, along with tꦛhose on Spurs' long injury list.
"I love Dane Scarlett a lot," said Kulusevski. "I think he is a great player and I believe he will help us t𝐆hese months. It was a great goal, so I'm very happy for him.
"Also the other players that scored, they have to give the energy now. We have a lot of injuries and they d꧒id an amazing job today.
"A lot of players are coming back from injury now, like Micky [van de Ven], who is a world-class centre-back. I believe we stil𒀰l can do it [win a trophy]."
Brentford defender Nathan Collins, meanwhile, came out in supp🍌ort of Bryan Mbeumo ahead of their match against Spurs, following the latter's penalty miss✱ and subsequent goal from the retake.
"Never doubt Bryan," he said. "We are all so confident in🌊 him, and he's confident in himself. To do that on your second one, it's unreal."
Mbeumo, me🔥anℱwhile, has spoken about his close relationship with fellow forward Yoane Wissa on and off the pitch.
"If one of us scores, then ♌we are really ha🦩ppy for the other," he said.
His penalty goal last weekend against Crystal Palace maintained a 100% record from the spotꦦ for Brentford, having had the initial miss chalked off.
Mbeumo 🌌said that his winning formula was down to "foc𝕴using on myself.
"♛It's all mental at this point," he✃ added. "I know I work a lot and I just needed to do the business."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in 17 Premier League goals this𒈔 season (14 goals, 3 assists), with only four players involved in more. The only Bees player with more goals and assists in a Premier League campaign was Ivan Toney in 2022-23 (20 goals, 4 assists).
Mbeumo 🦹scored against Crystal Palace last time out and now has four league goals in his last five appear🍒ances.
Tottenham – Dejan Kulusevski
No player has created more chances in open play in the Premier League this season than Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski (51). His average of 2.5 ope🐎n play chances created per 90 minutes in 2024-25 is🅘 bettered by only two Spurs players in a season on record (min. 900 minutes played): Christian Eriksen in 2015-16 (2.6 per 90) and Aaron Lennon in 2010-11 (2.51 per 90).
The Swede has had at least one shot per game in each of hi🌞s last 10 Premier League appearances, while he also claimed a goal against Everton in his last away game.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Tottenham have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches (D1), with no side picking up fewer points sin𝔍ce the start of this run on 22 December (1). Spurs haven’t lost five games in a row since a run of six in October/November 2004, which came under Jacques Santini and Martin Jol losing three each.
Brentford are the Premier League🌼’s leading scorers on home soil this season (29) but are winless in their last four at tꦿhe Gtech Community Stadium (D1 L3).
The hosts have also gone 13 matches without a clean🌊 sheet at home, last having a longer ꧙run in the league between November 2003 and April 2004 (14).
All three Premier League meetings between these two sides at the Gtech Community Stadium have enౠded in a ꧑draw.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brentford – 44.2%
Draw – 24.1%
Tottenham – 31.8%
