Premier League clubs are set to vote in a meeting on Thursday on whether five substitutions will be permitted during matches next season. A big topic of debate over the past 12 months or so with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp making their feelings clear on wanting a change to the current rules, and teams are now expected to vote in favour of the switch from the standard three alterations.
The Premier League would then subsequently fall in line with the rest of Europe's major leagues, who currently allow five substitutions. Premier League clubs were allowed to make up to five substitutions following 'Project Restart' in the summer of 2020 when league action resumed after three months away due to the Coronavirus pandemic, although clubs did vote to revert back to three substitutions the following campaign.
Now able to name nine players on the substitutes' bench after an increase from the previous seven, a number of clubs have had to name youthful benches at times over the past year following a number of absences. Antonio Conte's Tottenham have been in this position rather recently with youngsters Brandon Austin, Harvey White, Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett all selected in the squad for the 4-0 win away at Leeds United in February.
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A great experience for the younger players as they look to make it in their quest to become first-team regulars, Scarlett was given the last few minutes of the game at Elland Road with Spurs four goals to the good. A regular in first-team training at Hotspur Way over the past two seasons after impressing for Jose Mourinho's side in pre-season ahead of 2020/21, Scarlett has been a regular on the substitutes' bench.
However, opportunities have been extremely hard to come by for the 18-year-old in the Premier League with only one appearance after making the squad on 17 occasions this season. Scarlett has made a further six appearances in cup competition this term, totalling 267 minutes, but his match action in the Europa Conference League in the first few months of the campaign did highlight the huge gulf between academy football and coming up against seasoned pros.
It was always going to be such a tough ask for him to hold his own up against players who have played the game for years, and Scarlett has plenty to do in order to get up to the demands of senior football. Key to doing that will be to increase his pitch time and get the minutes under his belt he desperately needs.
Conte may not have had the chance to throw the youngster on as much as he would have liked so far during his tenure, with his appearance at Leeds only his second in the top flight after coming off the bench against West Brom in February 2021. Speaking in his pre-match press conference to preview the FA Cup game against Middlesbrough, the head coach did open up on Scarlett's cameo against Leeds and how hard the player is working in training.
"No, no, no. I don’t give a gift to my players, even if you’re 17 years old. I think Dane is working hard, he is a really good prospect from the academy," he explained. "At this moment for sure the best prospect from the academy. But we have a couple of really good players training with us and improving. Dane has to continue to work very hard.
"We have to find the best solution in training because in the past he had many, many injuries. But he has great potential, he’s only 17, he has to continue to improve, to grow, to understand and to think about football. It was a signal for him because he deserved this opportunity to play a few minutes. I don’t give a gift to anybody. They have to deserve this opportunity."
Even after Tottenham's 3-1 win over West Ham in the team's last game before March's international break, Conte namechecked Scarlett when speaking about Son Heung-min's performance. The head coach waxed lyrical about the club's exciting talent and it has only left fans wanting more.
"I'm seeing a lot of improvement today in Scarlett honestly if I have to tell you," said the Italian. "Seeing that this guy is improving a lot, he's only 17-years-old but I can tell you that he is a really important prospect for Tottenham.
"He has to be patient and work behind these very important players and continue to work in this way because about Scarlett, I can tell you that I see a brilliant future for him."
Tottenham do have some player on their hands and all will be hoping to see more of Scarlett on the pitch alongside Harry Kane for the Lilywhites over the course of the 2022/23 campaign. A change in the substitutions rule will only help the young striker and that may result in him making a name for himself in the Premier League sooner rather than later.
