When it comes to making a move from Leeds United to Tottenham Hotpsur as a teenage star tipped for the top, Aaron Lennon knows all about the pressure and expectation that Archie Gray is feeling. Lennon tread the path first, leaving his hometown club behind for the glitz and glamour of the Premier League, when making a £1m move to Spurs in 2005 to aid Leeds' financial struggles after dropping out the top division.
Lennon would go on to star for Spurs and England in a brilliant career, which is the hope for Gray, who last summer switched Elland Road for north London in a £40m deal. It' a deal that many at Spurs think could prove to be a bargain in years to come, such is the hope for Gray.
Lennon has watched Gray's development at Leeds closely, but even he says he has been surprised by how good the teenager has been this season for Ange Postecoglou's side.
"Obviously I know Archie quite well from his Leeds days. I'd watched him a lot. I knew how good he was. It's even shocked me how good he's been this season again and what he's gone on to. He's taken it to another level, and especially in the positions he's had to play," [Lennon told Football.Londo](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/aaron-lennon-makes-big-archie-31171082)n.
Lennon worked as an academy coach with Leeds' under-18s last season and the Elland Road club was awash with excitement about the potential of Gray, who was with the first team and impressing as many people off the pitch as he did on it.
"When I went back to Leeds in the back end of the last season, he was just with the first team, but around the place he was always a great lad. The staff who had had him before spoke so highly of him just as an individual," Lennon said. "They were just like 'Aaron, trust me, you won't meet a better lad', that he was an unbelievable pro but just such a nice kid, and he strikes me as that.
"I watched him play a lot at full-back for Leeds, but I've also watched him a lot playing in the middle of the park. I think his best position is still in the middle. When he played against Chelsea for Leeds he was honestly unbelievable.
"So for me, he's still going to be a central midfielder, and I'm actually gutted for him that he's not managed to get more minutes there because I do think he could have a big influence on this team playing in the centre of the park. Obviously with the injury problems, he's had to fill in in various roles, which he's done unbelievably well at.
"I think his time will come. I think if you ask him, he'll say where he wants to play, he'll tell you in the middle of the park, and once the injured players come back and it might be next season now, who knows, but I think it will be amazing to see Archie get in the centre of the pitch."