Dane Scarlett had a role to play in Tottenham’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Dane Scarlett has had to be incredibly patient when it has come to minutes in Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham first team. Having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Portsmouth in League One, the striker headed out on a temporary basis once again in late August as he linked up with Ipswich Town on a season-long deal.
While it was a year to remember for all at Portman Road following their promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2002, the young striker endured a rather frustrating spell in Suffolk with limited minutes coming his way. Following 12 appearances for the Tractor Boys, all of which came late on in games as a substitute, Tottenham made the decision in December to recall the 20-year-old.
Unable to play for a third club in the 2023/24 season after his appearance for Spurs in their Carabao Cup tie at Fulham in the days leading up to his Ipswich switch, it meant that Scarlett would remain with Postecoglou’s side for the remainder of the term and be an option for the first team. Back on the field for Spurs against Burnley in his first game back following his loan return, Scarlett has made a further four appearances for the Lilywhites since his outing in the 1-0 FA Cup win over the Clarets.
His latest appearance for Tottenham came on Saturday afternoon, with Burnley once again the team’s opponents as they secured all three points in a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Previously only getting a minute or two to his name when coming off the bench in the Premier League, Scarlett was introduced for the final 15 minutes by Postecoglou as Spurs searched for a late winner.
The academy graduate did have a key role to play in the victory following a smart bit of movement that allowed Micky van de Ven to claim victory for Tottenham. The Dutchman, of course, received all the plaudits for a wonderful finish as he showcased his quality but it was Scarlett’s intelligent play that opened up a gap for his teammate to net.
With Van de Ven coming into a central area from his left-back role after taking in James Maddison’s pass, Scarlett moved to his left and enticed Burnley defender Maxime Esteve across with him, thus allowing the Netherlands international a clear sight of goal as he expertly found the bottom corner. A number of people had noticed the striker’s role in the winner and duly praised him for his vital contribution.
Without Richarlison through a calf injury and having to play Son Heung-min as a striker once again with a real lack of out-and-out forwards at the club at present, Postecoglou clearly sensed that Scarlett could have an impact on proceedings as they chased a late winner. Part of a triple substitution as Radu Dragusin and Rodrigo Bentancur were also introduced, the youngster offered Tottenham a threat up front and also the movement of a striker that Son perhaps lacks from his game after spending the vast majority of his career out on the left flank.
It was also a move that played into Son’s hands as it allowed him to return to his best position and do what he does best down Tottenham’s left in the closing stages. Just prior to Van de Ven’s goal, Tottenham did mount an attack through Cristian Romero and it resulted in Arijanet Muric keeping out Pape Matar Sarr’s effort.
Romero did initially try to pick out Scarlett but his cutback was cut out at a time when the striker had lost his footing, with the ball then falling kindly to Sarr only for the goalkeeper to deny him. Romero regained possession from Muric’s save but instead tried to play it back across the area at a time when Scarlett was standing a few yards away from him and demanding the ball.
Once Burnley had cleared their lines, Scarlett turned back towards the World Cup winner, held both of his arms out and seemed to question the centre-back as to why he had not put the ball on a plate for him. The Hillingdon-born striker’s biggest contribution was to come a matter of minutes later as his movement allowed Van de Ven to find the net and spark pandemonium inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Scarlett’s impact was certainly recognised by the ex-Wolfsburg player, who namechecked his teammate when speaking on SPURSPLAY following the win.
“Even when we’re down the fans keep pushing us. Like Brennan said, they smell that we can score so they push us and it’s really nice that I can score another goal,” said Van de Ven.
“The crazy thing is that in the game I was walking next to Madders and I said to him ‘in five seconds when you get the ball, I’ll run deep, just pass it to me’. So when he got the ball, I ran deep and he played it to me and my touch took me straight away from the defenders.
“I saw Dane was making a block and I cut it to my left and I saw the little gap in the corner and I thought to play it with my left into the bottom corner.
“Postecoglou also noted Scarlett’s cameo appearance and stated in his post-match press conference that his player “came on and worked really hard”. With two games of the season still to go, the starlet will be hoping that he can build on his decent showing against Burnley by getting more minutes in the tank in the Man City and Sheffield United games.
At a time when Tottenham have been crying out for an out-and-out striker, Scarlett could potentially offer them that even if he is to be introduced in the closing stages of matches. Certainly needing to end the season on a positive note after enduring a disappointing year with a lack of first-team football coming his way, the most amount of minutes he’s received in a single Premier League game and a key contribution vs Burnley will have been a nice little boost for the highly-rated youngster.
