By Pranav Shahaney

11th Nov, 2022 | 10:10am

Gabby Agbonlahor slams Spurs for loaning out striker Dane Scarlett to Portsmouth

Gabby Agbonlahor has slammed the Spurs hierarchy for loaning out young striker Dane Scarlett to Portsmouth after their loss against Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-0 to Forest in the Carabao Cup and Harry Kane played the game despite Antonio Conte admitting he’s tired.

Agbonlahor believes that they would land into these kinds of problems, had they kept Scarlett at the club.

He said on talkSPORT, “They got a young lad on loan at Portsmouth called Scarlett. Very very good player – fast in play, sharp, quick, can finish.

“Why have you sent him on loan to Portsmouth when you have one striker?

“Yes you bought Richarlison but he’s not a striker. He’s an inside forward, plays off the striker.

“This was the game last night where Scarlett should’ve started.”

Baffling

Scarlett is one of the brightest young talents in North London and he could’ve been useful in the game against Forest.

However, to use that example to speak out against loaning him out is absolutely weird and naive and Agbonlahor clearly is missing the point of why clubs loan players out.

The 18-year-old may get four or five games at Spurs all season – most of them not high-pressure ones or in cups where it does not really matter what the result is.

At Portsmouth, he’s playing week in and week out and has the responsibility of leading the line.

Sure, he’s not playing against Premier League level players every week, but they are professionals too and senior players are tougher to play against academy kids.

He’s certainly going to develop his skills better on loan and if Spurs feel that he could be ready for first-team minutes, they always have the chance to get him back in January.

In other Spurs news, Alex Barker feels that Spence isn’t ready for Premier League football