Ipswich Town have signed Tottenham forward Dane Scarlett on a season-long loan. Stuart Watson looks at the 19-year-old's journey to this point.
MOURINHO’S PRAISE
Scarlett featured for Tottenham’s U18s at the age of 15.
Such was his progress that Jose Mourinho then decided to include the newly-turned 16-year-old in his first team squad for the pre-season of 2020.
Among the behind-closed-doors friendly games that Scarlett featured in that summer included an appearance off the bench as Spurs beat Ipswich 3-0 at White Hart Lane.
Back in the U18s he provided 10 goals and three assists in just eight games. That led to him making his senior debut as a second half sub during Spurs’ 2-1 win at Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Europa League group stage.
At 16 years and 247 days old, he became Tottenham’s youngest ever player, taking the record previously held by John Bostock. That was subsequently beaten again by Alfie Devine a few months later.
“When I played him I didn’t know he was the youngest one,” said Mourinho. “It’s a good thing. He had a good pre-season with us. When I felt there was space for another young player in the squad, I asked my football director and I asked the academy director and they contacted all the coaches. ‘Who deserves?’ They gave me his name.”
Back in the U18s, Scarlett continued to find the net regularly. After bagging five goals in a 6-2 win against Newport County in the FA Youth Cup he received another first team call. His Premier League debut came as a late sub during a 2-0 home win against West Brom.
"I wanted to be the one to put him on in a Premier League match because I know that he will be somebody in a few years,” said Mourinho afterwards.
Later that month, he became the youngest player to make an assist in the Europa League since Kylian Mbappé when teeing up Carlos Vinicius in a 4–0 win against Wolfsberger AC.
Unsurprisingly, a professional contract was signed straight after his 17th birthday.
'BEST PROSPECT IN THE ACADEMY'
Scarlett - now under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo - made his full debut for Tottenham at the start of the following season, starting in a 1-0 win at Portuguese side Pacos Ferreira in the Europa Conference League.
Further appearances in that competition came against Rennes, NS Mura and Vitesse Arnhem. He came on for Harry Kane in one of those games and was replaced by the England striker in another, sharing the field with the likes of Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli.
Ahead of the 1-0 defeat at Vitesse, boss Santo said: “They have player (Riechedly Bazoer) who was in midfield and now he's in a back three. He likes to go with the ball and progress through the lines. The player in charge of doing that task is going to be Dane. I think he's ready to do it."
Antonio Conte then replaced Santo in the hotseat, but Scarlett remained in the first team picture. In the second half of the season there were FA Cup appearances against Morecambe and Middlesbrough, plus another Premier League cameo – this one in the latter stages of a 4-0 win at Leeds.
"I don't give gifts to my players," said Conte, after Scarlett replaced Son late on at Elland Road. "Dane's working really hard and he is for sure at this moment the best prospect from the academy.”
A few weeks later, the Italian, completely unprompted, said in a press conference: "I'm seeing a lot of improvement today in Scarlett. I can tell you that he is a really important prospect for Tottenham. He has to be patient and work hard, but I can tell you that I see a brilliant future for him."
Scarlett subsequently penned a new four-year deal at the end of that campaign.
BOLD AMBITION
"Harry Kane is my idol," said Scarlett, in an interview with MOTDx's In the Making.
"I'm very fortunate to see him everyday in training and obviously watch him when he plays games. Everything he does is perfect and he's a true professional.
"If I stick to it and keep working hard there should be no reason why I can't do what he's done, if not more.
"I'm happy in the position I'm in now but I haven't really done anything yet, so I've just got to stay focused on myself, keep working hard. I'm very hungry, I just want to be the best, that's it."
EUROS WINNER
Scarlett has played for England since U15 level.
He scored six goals in five qualifying games to help the U19s reach the 2022 European Championship finals. Then, at last summer’s tournament in Slovakia, he was a key man as the Three Lions lifted the trophy.
Ian Foster’s side came from behind in the semi-final against Italy and again in the final against Israel.
A LEAGUE ONE LOAN
Off the back of that international success, Scarlett joined League One club Portsmouth on a season-long loan.
“He’s a boy who has the world at his feet and comes here after a brilliant summer with England, playing a big part in that success,” said Pompey boss Danny Cowley.
“There’s an intelligence beyond his years – both in and out of possession – with the timing of his runs and the movement that allows him to win space behind defenders.
“We think those qualities will carry a real threat and add a different dimension to our team, while against the ball he has an unbelievable work ethic.
“Dane has an infectious energy and I know that the staff at both Tottenham and the England set-up think the world of him.
“This is his first loan and so it won’t be easy because it’s a new experience, but we’re there to support him, like we have done with many young players in the past.
“We’re really looking forward to working with Dane, who’s an outstanding finisher with both feet and his head. He has a ruthlessness that centre-forwards need.”
ON MCKENNA’S RADAR
Scarlett hit the ground running at Fratton Park.
Forming a strong strike partnership with Colby Bishop in a 4-4-2 formation, he scored four goals in three games at the end of August/early September – that included a fine brace in a 2-1 home win against Peterborough.
After Ipswich beat Portsmouth 3-2 at Portman in October, Blues boss Kieran McKenna, having taken umbrage at Cowley’s comments about spending power, said: "One of the only players they have that doesn't have Championship experience is one of the best young strikers in world football, in my opinion, in Dane Scarlett."
Come December there was talk of Tottenham potentially recalling their teenage front man and sending him to a Championship club to further his progress.
"Dane is 18, but he trained last week and he looked frightening," enthused Cowley. "Some of his one v one play and finishing, wow. He has these days where you see this outstanding potential he possesses.
"‘He’s just a young player who is still trying to learn about himself, learn about his game and learn about his position and how to perform consistently week in, week out. As I’ve said though on numerous occasions it’s a privilege to work with him every day.”
WIDE MAN ROLE?
Cowley was sacked early in January. New boss John Mousinho switched to a 4-2-3-1 system and Scarlett subsequently saw his game time dry up. He started just six games in the second half of the season.
“Dane definitely has a future playing off one of the wings,” said Mousinho.
“He has probably been one of the victims of the shape change since I’ve come in and played one up top, with Colby taking to that position and being brilliant.
“As a number nine, Dane has clearly had limited opportunities and, when he has played in our side, it has been off the left and he’s affected games.
“He scored that all-important goal against Burton, while came on against Bolton and made a real difference, playing just behind Colby.
“Certainly if he wants to play for Spurs in the next year or so then it might be time to think about something other than playing as a number nine.
“That’s what Dane’s ambition should be, he should want to play for Spurs. I’ve actually watched him in Spurs’ new stadium for a Europa League game and modern centre-forwards need that flexibility.
“One which springs to mind is Marcus Rashford, who was a centre-forward coming through the ranks and has now reinvented himself as that wide player cutting in – and still with the ability to score.
“That’s not a like-for-like comparison, they are completely different players, but maybe that’s something for Dane to think about.
“I know he wants to play as that number nine, but that flexibility fitting into different formations and different sides is going to be really important for him.”
CATCHING ANGE’S EYE
Scarlett caught the eye of new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu’s eye in the pre-season just gone, scoring in a friendly win against Shakhtar Donetsk.
He was subsequently brought on for the second half of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Fulham in the Carabao Cup.
After a Tottenham exited the competition on penalties (Scarlett didn’t take one), Postecoglu said: “I thought he was bright when he came on. He has been really good for us in training, he's working really hard.
“Look, I'll sit down with Dane over the next couple of days and sort of chart a way forward for him. I really think he's definitely got a future at our club and I really like his attributes as a striker.”
Scarlett – who will be cup-tied when Ipswich host Wolves in round three of the Carabao Cup next month – signed a new deal at White Hart Lane (length not disclosed) before linking up with the Blues.
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