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‘Strange’… Alasdair Gold surprised after what happened to Tottenham loanee Ashley Phillips

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Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips was booed on his return to Blackburn Rovers last week.

The 18-year-old defender is currently spending the remainder of the season out on loan with Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

Heading into the summer, the centre-back is providing a real case for his inclusion in Ange Postecoglou’s squad for next season.

Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Ashley Phillips booed by Blackburn fans

Phillips departed Hotspur Way in the January window to join the Pilgrims alongside Spurs midfielder Alfie Devine.

It has been a loan spell which has favoured Phillips more than Devine so far with the defender becoming a regular in the Plymouth starting XI.

His last outing in the Championship saw him return to his old club, Blackburn, but it is fair to say he did not the most welcome of receptions.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold was left surprised when saying the youngster was booed by the Ewood Park crowd.

He said: “They drew 1-1 at Blackburn. They lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday the week before. Ashley Phillips got booed by the Blackburn fans which I think surprised a few people there at the game. Young man obviously heading off [from Blackburn] to kind of improve his football career. And yeah, he got booed by them, which is a strange one.”

Blackburn Rovers v Plymouth Argyle - Sky Bet Championship
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Phillips’ future at Tottenham

At just 18, it is clear the youngster is seriously impressing the Plymouth fans having only arrived in the January window.

But a big question surrounds what lies ahead of him in the summer now.

Phillips will surely have got the taste for regular first-team action and, it has to be said, that feels unlikely at Spurs currently.

Radu Dragusin has already felt just how difficult it is to work your way into the starting XI at Spurs.

That is purely down to the level of performances put in by Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven week in and week out.

The Spurs News also understands that Spurs are still in the market to add another senior addition to their centre-back options

With this in mind, it is difficult to see where Phillips could work himself into Postecoglou’s plans for next season.

And with Champions League football potentially being on the menu for next season, it may still prove just too early for Phillips to return.

Another loan would do him no harm at all and his performances at Plymouth could even earn him a move to a bigger club.