Michael Dawson makes big Spurs prediction about Mikey Moore and Archie Gray

Michael Dawson believes that Ange Postecoglou will be expected to guide Tottenham to a top-four finish this season, backing many of the club’s young players to step up to the plate and deliver this season.

Spurs youngsters shine in pre-season

The standout feature of Tottenham’s pre-season matches this summer has been the performances of the young players, with the likes of Mikey Moore, Lucas Bergvall, Will Lankshear and Archie Gray showcasing their quality.

While Dawson is wary of reading too much into performances in pre-season, he is pleased with what he saw from the younger players, backing Moore and Gray to both step and deliver the goods this season.

The former Spurs captain told The Daily Mail: “Pre-season has been very good. I look at preseason games, and sometimes it can be hard to reflect and look where teams are, especially with the Euros being going on.

“Mickey van de Ven was not there, Cristian Romero was not there. Radu Dragusin came back later than others. So it’s been a patched-up defence, but I think it gives an opportunity to the young players there to show what they can do.

“Well, I certainly think Mikey Moore will. I think sometimes these opportunities, you’re waiting for them and Mikey certainly got that – getting a few goals in pre-season. I mean, we saw him at the back end of the season last year, being involved in training with the team.

“And I think this year, with European football, you’re going to have those opportunities because you can’t have the intensity that we have in the Premier League, and then have European football and trying to be successful.

“I’ve also seen a lot of Archie Gray. He was absolutely magnificent in the Championship last year in his first full season. But this is another step up.

‘I think he can play numerous positions, and he will play minutes. He’s a kid who wants to learn. He takes on board and his work ethic. He’s just loves football.”

Tottenham need to aim for Champions League football

Dawson pointed out that while Postecoglou had a free hit last season, he will be expected to deliver Champions League football, now that the players have had time to get used to his methods.

The pundit continued: “I think Ange’s first season was entertaining and great to watch. But now it’s about trying to get back in the Champions League. That has to be the goal.”

However, the 40-year-old admitted that it will not be an easy target as Spurs’ rivals have also strengthened their squads considerably.

He added: “I like United’s business. Leny Yoro, young kid, but I’ve seen him in their preseasons. He’s quick and he covers ground well. I mean, I think that’s just the start of them.

“I think Aston Villa as well, who’ve signed Amadou Onana. It’s gonna be a big season for Villa because I thought they were magnificent last year but with Champions League football, you have to have a squad to be able to compete in the top levels.”

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Ange himself will acknowledge that anything other than a top-four finish would be considered a failure in the upcoming season.

In fact, we know that the Australian will be setting his sights much higher and will get the squad believing that they can challenge the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.