Archie Gray was at centre-back once again on Wednesday night as Tottenham Hotspur were narrowly beaten by Manchester City, and the Leeds United academy product made Spurs history.
The 18-year-old is enjoying plenty of game time simply by staying fit at Tottenham, with Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou having to cope with an extensive injury list during his second season in North London.
The England U21 international is on an upward spiral in terms of his burgeoning career and reputation. That is despite just one season in the Leeds senior side, in which he played 52 times under Daniel Farke.
That earned him a move to Spurs where he has since clocked up another 35 outings in all competitions. Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game on Wednesday night, even if Spurs should have netted.
Archie Gray makes Tottenham history against Manchester City
Still only 18 and a fortnight away from his 19th birthday, Gray clocked up his 20th Premier League outing for Spurs. The second player to ever do that for Tottenham, the other being a Leeds academy product.
Indeed, the only other player to ever do that for Tottenham was another off the Thorp Arch conveyor belt in the form of Aaron Lennon. After 43 Leeds outings, Lennon joined Tottenham in the summer of 2005.
His move to Spurs came just two months after turning 18, with Lennon playing 23 times in the Premier League before his 19th birthday in April 2006. Gray can only reach 21 games before his 19th birthday.
Why Ally McCoist feels sorry for Archie Gray after Spurs move
When Gray joined Spurs for a £40m fee from Leeds last summer, the teenager will have been hoping for a breakthrough into the Tottenham midfield. But that has not come to light, initially playing at right-back.
But Gray had played at centre-back in pre-season and injuries at Spurs have forced Postecoglou to play him in the middle of the defence against some of Europe’s best attackers, like Haaland on Wednesday.
McCoist said he felt sympathy for Gray, having to play away from his natural position during Tottenham’s defeat to Newcastle earlier this year. Whether he moves into the Spurs midfield, remains to be seen.
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