Tottenham Hotspur will surely be hard at work in keeping Mikey Moore on the right path after the teenage starlet was previously compared to Adel Taarabt – and that will be something of a job for Son Heung-min and co.
The 16-year-old has been one of Spurs’ best performers during pre-season, scoring in games against Hearts and grabbing the winning goal in their 3-2 win over Vissel Kobe.
The winger became the youngest player to represent the Lilywhites in Premier League history when he appeared against Manchester City last season with Moore expected to be a regular member of Spurs’ first-team squad this upcoming campaign
The teenager is among the most highly-rated talents they’ve had in recent years and his comparison to ex-Spurs ace Adel Taarabt by a former Tottenham academy coach is one the club will be keeping a keen eye on considering the lack of discipline and attitude that had plagued the Moroccan’s ascension in football.
Speaking to The Athletic earlier this year, the coach admitted that Moore’s silky skills on the ball remind him of the former QPR talent, who now plays for Al-Nasr in Dubai.
“He is a special talent,” he said. “He has great technique. It’s hard (to compare him). He’s like a throwback player. In terms of his skill and ability, he is a bit like (former Tottenham and Morocco forward) Adel Taarabt.”
Although he was referencing Taarabt’s ability on the ball, it serves as a warning that that does not guarantee success with the Moroccan making just 15 first-team appearances for Spurs before being moved on.
And while he enjoyed some success, it is widely perceived that the now 35-year-old didn’t fulfil all the potential he showed as a youngster.
Simon Davies, who heads Spurs’ academy, also issued a caution back in May when talking about the 16-year-old hotshot. He said: “It’s encouraging that the manager sees something in Mikey but it is just potential at the moment. He’s a 16-year-old boy. He’s not 17 until August, so he’s a young boy with high potential. We have several of them in the academy.
“It’s exciting for the academy to have a player so young on the bench. But we have to stay calm and consistent. Because at the moment, it is just [potential].
“I spoke to him this morning while he was having his breakfast about staying calm and consistent and keep working hard every day, do the small things right [because] the small things get noticed.
“He’s super mature for a young boy so let’s hope his potential is fulfilled but unfortunately we haven’t got a crystal ball. So we just have to do all the things right every day and stay consistent and calm.”
In a bid to help Moore continually progress on the senior level, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou earmarked Son as a key player in the dressing room to lead the younger players, praising his mindset and motivation.
“You’ve just heard Sonny at 32-years-old and he’s done just about everything in the game but they still think they can improve,” he said.
“You have to have that mindset, whether you’re 16 or 32, or god forbid you’re 58 like me, you can always improve. If you have that mindset, particularly in football, but in elite sport, it doesn’t always guarantee you’ll be successful but it guarantees you’ll get the maximum out of your career.
“The beauty for me is we have a lot of young players, but alongside Sonny, players like Ben Davies and other experienced players who set the right example every day. That’s important.” Meanwhile, it’s been a busy summer in north London with Spurs bringing in four new faces, notably Archie Gray from Leeds who they forked out £40m for.