Archie Gray may need to consider a possible loan move after Thomas Frank left the youngster out of his entire Tottenham Hotspur matchday squad for the 3-0 victory over 10-man West Ham United.
Spurs coasted to all three points at the London Stadium courtesy of goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven. It was another excellent performance from Frank's men as they bounced back from their disappointing 1-0 loss to Bournemouth before the international break.
While the Lilywhites had reason to celebrate, there are concerns over Gray's opportunities on Frank's side this season. The 19-year-old hasn't appeared since the 3-0 season-opening win against Burnley and could now find game time hard to come by.
Archie Gray's Future Uncertain After Losing Place in Frank's Spurs Side
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Gray was an important player for Frank's predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, last season, showing maturity beyond his years to fill in at centre-back due to an injury crisis. He made 46 appearances across competitions and played most of Spurs' Europa League-winning campaign.
Frank spoke positively about the former Leeds United academy graduate after the Burnley win, although he made clear he was wary of overusing the teenager's versatility. He said: "We need to be aware of not putting players in different positions... It cannot be we put them out there and suddenly they are exceptional. That demands incredible, incredible, incredible talents."
Gray hasn't made a single appearance since those comments, which could indicate that his Danish coach wants to give him more time after he was thrown into the deep end in his debut season. But the 14-cap England U21 international will want game time after tasting consistent top-flight football last term.
There is now significant competition for places in Frank's midfield, and Sarr and Bergvall have made excellent starts to the campaign. That could frustrate the young midfielder, who was one of the most coveted youngsters in England last summer.
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Yves Bissouma has already learned how strict the Lilywhites boss can be after he was punished for lateness. The Malian was set to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce until a move fell through, and the 29-year-old is now fighting for his future in Frank's team.
Gray similarly may face an uphill battle to force his way back into the starting XI and reclaim his status as one of the most exciting prospects in the country. If he finds himself playing bit-part roles, it could result in a possible move, with a loan a possibility given the lengthy queue of clubs that Spurs beat to sign him from Leeds for £30m in July 2024.
A temporary return to Elland Road in January would be a good opportunity, given he was heralded as one of the best youngsters to emerge from their academy. Club legend Jermaine Beckford had called him a "phenomenal" talent, and he had even earned comparisons to Jude Bellingham.