Tottenham coach names three Academy stars who most impressed against Rangers first team

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Published on:

12 May 2016, 8:17 am

By Tottenham correspondent Tony Hughes

Tottenham academy chief John McDermott has claimed a young side took huge benefit from Wednesday's defeat to Rangers' first team.

The Scottish giants won 4-3 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Spurs' Enfield training headquarters as they stepped up preparations for the Scottish Cup final.

But Spurs' emerging stars also came out with credit as McDermott identified Shayon Harrison, Will Miller and Grant Ward as three who particularly impressed.

Striker Harrison is 18, midfielder Miller is 19 and right-sided attacker Ward, who has spent the season on loan at Championship club Rotherham, is 21.

"I know from speaking to Mark Warburton that they got a lot out of it, too, but from our side I was pleased with Shayon Harrison - he impressed along with Will Miller, while Grant Ward came back after playing 90 minutes in his final game at Rotherham at the weekend and I thought he was exemplary," head of player development McDermott told the official Tottenham website.

"He was our senior player and I was really pleased with his approach and how he led our team. Most of the players came out in credit in a very, very tough game for us.

"We say it regularly – the best and hardest tests are usually when we play against men’s sides and I thought Rangers were excellent. Their movement, their physicality and their approach to the game was first class and I was really proud of how our players hung onto their coattails to some extent in the first half.

"We showed an excellent mentality to compete and then in the second half I thought the game was fairly even."

Warburton has made it clear he is keen for more Tottenham emerging stars to go on loan in Scotland.

The Rangers manager wants to strengthen the club's relationship with the London giants after overseeing the development of Dominic Ball at Ibrox and Alex Pritchard when he was at Brentford last season.

Lifelong Spurs fan Warburton believes Rangers could offer the perfect club for young Spurs players to develop while on loan and get crucial regular first-team matches.

In other Rangers news, the club are confident of unveiling a new signing this week.

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