Winks hopes to face his old mate Parker
HARRY WINKS will be the apprentice taking on the master if he faces Fulham’s Scott Parker in the FA Cup today.
When Parker was leading Spurs into the Champions League under Harry Redknapp in 2012, Winks was 16 and still coming through the club’s youth system.
Parker was an influence on the teenager who, now 21, is enjoying a breakthrough season at White Hart Lane as third pick in central midfield behind Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.
It is no coincidence that Winks’ tenacity, efficiency and will to win are all reminiscent of Parker in his prime.
“He was a top player and a top person,” Winks said. “He was great, always giving me advice.
“When I first trained with the first team he was near the end of his time at Spurs and I was in and out of the sessions.
“As a young scholar just looking up to someone like Scott and training with him, I was in awe of him. “Hopefully,if I do get the chance to play against him, it will be respect on both sides, but I will go out and try to win.”
Parker, at 36, is 15 years Winks’ senior and no longer a regular starter for Fulham, who sit eighth in the Championship.
Winks recalled how Parker called him in after training one day for some individual feedback.
“He was coming to the end of his career at Spurs and was looking more to the coaching side,” Winks said.
“Obviously, he has a lot of advice to pass on and me being a young player coming through the academy I was just trying to get as much advice as possible. Scott seemed to be perfect for that. “I remember I went into a room with him and we watched clips of his game and he talked me through what he thought was good and what I needed to watch and do myself. “He has captained England,player – his he passing,is a top his tackling, his mentality. “When he goes on the pitch, he always gives 100% and that is what I like to emulate.” It is typical of Winks’ own driven personality that he has never liked asking for an opponent’s shirt but he did say he would seek Parker out after the game to catch up. “I probably won’t speak to him before but I might shake hands with him after the game and have a chat,” Winks said. “At the end of the day he is an opponent and you want to win the game so I am not going to get distracted by the fact he is someone I look up to. I will just go into the game as normal.” Tottenham need a victory at Craven Cottage to boost morale, following Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League defeat to Gent. The surprise loss in Belgium means Spurs have now managed only two victories in six matches, having won their previous seven in a row.