Hutton: Spence’s confidence taking a hit with Spurs
ALAN Hutton believes former Nottingham Forest loanee Djed Spence is in danger of having his confidence heavily knocked at Tottenham Hotspur and has pushed for the player to pursue a loan move away from the club.
Spence, 22, signed for Spurs from Middlesbrough in a deal worth around £12.7m in the summer after enjoying a successful promotion campaign with Forest.
The England U21 international has since seen little-to-no gametime under Spurs boss Antonio Conte, with only three Premier League substitute appearances to his name, for a total of four minutes of action.
Hutton told the Football Insider website: “It can affect somebody’s confidence and that can put you on a downward spiral which is not ideal for anyone.
“I think he is a fantastic player, I think he has a lot to give now. I saw a little glimpse of him against Nottingham Forest and he was running, trying to make things happen.
“The enthusiasm is there. When you look at Antonio Conte’s options, (Matt) Doherty and Emerson Royal, I do not think they have been setting the heather alight. So I do not understand why he is not getting a bigger opportunity.
“If Conte is deciding at this moment in time that he is for the future then let him go out and play games. Let him go and build himself up, his confidence and show the manager what he is missing out on.
“But I believe he has definitely got something to give at this moment in time. But Conte sees him day in day out and if he thinks he is not ready then that is his choice.”
Steve Cooper’s side were heavily tipped to make Spence’s temporary stay at the City Ground a permanent one but the player opted for Tottenham instead. Forest have recently lost right-back Guilian Biancone for the remainder of the 2022-23 season through injury and could try to bring Spence back to the City Ground.