Harvey White's long wait to make a first-team appearance under Antonio Conte looks set to come to an end over the coming days with Tottenham in pre-season action. A regular on the bench in the second part of last campaign, unfortunately pitch time didn't come the youngster's way as Spurs battled for a top-four finish.
That should change, however, with the Lilywhites facing Team K League at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday, before finishing their tour of South Korea with a tough encounter against Sevilla. The Spurs boss will take a really good look at all his players over the next few days and minutes will be there for them, making that clear in his pre-match press conference.
"Tomorrow in the game, my target is to give all the players at least 45 minutes because we are working very well and I think all the players deserve to play at least one half," he said. "It’s a pleasure for me and the team and the club to stay here. We started the pre-season one week ago and now we are continuing to work here. We are enjoying our time in Korea, and we are preparing for tomorrow's game. We know very well that it will be a good test for us.
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"We are working a lot in these days on our idea of football and the tactical aspect and the physical aspect. I hope to see tomorrow during the game what we are trying to do in these days with the players and the team."
Conte's comments bode well for White, who has had to patiently wait for his chance at Tottenham. A regular in Premier League 2 in the first few months of 2021/22 apart from when he was called upon for the Europa Conference League on three occasions, he was in the Tottenham squad in 18 of their final 19 Premier League games of the season.
Remaining at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of January rather than heading out on loan again after his time at Portsmouth 12 months earlier, White was needed to provide cover in midfield due to Oliver Skipp's injury as Spurs couldn't leave themselves too short. Already training with the first team on a daily basis, the experience in the matchday squad was certainly very worthwhile for the player and Conte admitted in April that the 20-year-old "is improving a lot".
As good as it is for White's game to be coming up against players such as Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski, he is at the age where he needs to be getting experience of playing regular football week in, week out in the EFL. A number of Tottenham youngsters have taken their chance on pre-season in the past, with White, who was with the first team in the Far East and Germany in 2019, looking to do so this summer in his bid to become a Tottenham regular in the future.
Tottenham have strengthened in midfield ahead of the new term following the addition of highly-rated Yves Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion, while they also now have Skipp back to full fitness after his injury woes at the start of the year. Spurs have four excellent options in midfield but they ideally need to have a fifth player in the squad to cover as injuries and suspensions will occur at some point in the season.
One of White and Pape Matar Sarr could make up the quintet going into 2022/23, thus leaving Conte and Fabio Paratici with a decision to make over the duo. One thing that could see them side with keeping White is his homegrown status, especially as Harry Winks and Japhet Tanganga have been linked with moves away.
With four excellent players ahead of him in Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bissouma and Skipp, game time, and even a place on the bench for that matter, would be hard to come by for the academy ace if the aforementioned quartet remain fit. The Carabao Cup would represent a great opportunity for White to play in Spurs' first team, yet there is only one round of cup action coming up for Spurs in November prior to the 2022 World Cup due to the changes to the fixture calendar this season.
A good pre-season with regular minutes and a loan move would perhaps be best for White's development at present, but the decision may come down to what is best for Tottenham right now as they aim for a very successful season in N17. White clearly has a bright future ahead of him but those troublesome homegrown numbers could potentially have a say in Conte and Paratici deciding what comes next for the player.
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