Tottenham youngster Will Lankshear made a big impression for the side in their Europa League clash with Galatasaray, scoring his first senior goal.
The striker started in place of Dominic Solanke as Ange Postecoglou looked to mix youth and experience to share the minutes during a hectic campaign.
Spurs didn’t start in the best way as Yunus Akgun scored with a fabulous strike as the Lilywhites struggled to clear the ball.
Tottenham grew into the tie shortly after though and eventually drew level as Archie Gray’s clip into the box found Brennan Johnson, who squared the ball for Lankshear to tap in.
It marked a first goal for the youngster, a really proud moment for all those involved on the big stage of the Europa League.
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Glenn Hoddle gives verdict on Will Lankshear
Scoring is what brings energy to any striker, let alone a youngster who was looking for a goal to kickstart his Tottenham career.
One Spurs legend, Glenn Hoddle, gave his verdict on the great feeling the 19-year-old would’ve had when he tapped home the equaliser.
Speaking on TNT Sports, the former player and manager said: “What a fantastic feeling for the young man.
“A lovely ball from Archie Gray, he dinks a lovely weighted pass to Brenan Johnson and Lankshear is onside.
“Lankshear with his first senior goal. Fabulous response from Tottenham.”
The striker will now be hopeful of building on that with yet more goals in the future, possibly putting him in the thoughts of Ange Postecoglou for the weeks and months ahead.
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Peter Crouch and Joe Cole agree on Will Lankshear
Hoddle wasn’t the only one to be delighted for Lankshear as former Premier League stars Peter Crouch and Joe Cole also gave their verdict.
Talking through the goal on TNT Sports, Cole said: “Gray, who I’ve always been impressed with, plays it in and this ball here, he just floats it in with enough backspin there.
“And then Johnson, don’t underestimate how difficult that is just to caress it across the front of the goal and the young man [Lankshear], his first goal in a Tottenham shirt, he’ll be delighted.
“He wasn’t in the game a lot, but he had to put it away and he put it away.”
Crouch, who knew a thing or two about scoring a goal for Spurs, simply added: “So pleased for him.”
Despite a difficult evening in Turkey, Lankshear’s goal was one of the big positives to come from the encounter.
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