Tottenham are in the process of adding strength and depth to the already improved Antonio Conte side. Spurs have signed three players in this transfer window already, with more incomings and outgoings expected.
The Lilywhites' fourth place finish last season means a return to Champions League football for them in the next campaign. This not only highlighted the improvements Conte has already made to the squad, but is also likely to help in attracting new players to N17.
The Italian needs a bigger squad next season, to juggle the busy fixture schedule Tottenham have and to deal with the five substitution rule, which will be in place. This means that all members of the team are important, even if they aren't starting week in and week out.
READ MORE: Eric Dier reveals why 'quiet' Hugo Lloris is the perfect captain for Tottenham
This is the same case for goalkeeper Brandon Austin. The 23-year-old is currently Conte's third choice shot stopper, behind Hugo Lloris and new arrival, Fraser Forster.
Austin has spent time at Viborg and Orlando City on loan and is continuing to work his way up and into the first team. Lloris has previously expressed his enjoyment of working with the academy ace and he has also been praised by Scott Parker.
It was now Austin's turn to give out the compliments and the keeper explained what it is like to work with the Tottenham skipper. "Hugo is a great character – he will always talk to me and give me advice on different situations that happen in games and in training, and when we watch the analysis videos of games involving other teams or his own performances, we will discuss things about why he’s done things in a certain way," he said, in an interview with the club.
"With the tactical and technical aspects of the game, to get that level of insight from Hugo is invaluable really, coming from someone of his stature and someone who has achieved as much as he has. He's very good to learn from, obviously in addition to the fantastic coaches we have."
At the start of the year, Lloris signed a new contract at Spurs, something fans had been waiting for. The 35-year-old has almost been at Tottenham for a decade and has been a strong leader, both on and off the pitch.
This is something that Eric Dier highlighted a few years ago, after the Frenchman won the World Cup with his country. "He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world," Dier explained.
"Everyone in the squad looks up to him. We look up to the quality he brings, the work ethic he brings, the attitude he brings.
"His style is a quiet style but silence is sometimes deadly. Hugo can be a changed man because Hugo won it," the Lilywhites defender added.
Week in and week out, it is clear to see the goalkeeper has a strong relationship with his boss and teammates and is the type of captain Conte's side need. Lloris can bring a winning mentality and experience to the Tottenham dressing room and it highlights how important the Frenchman's new contract is.
Austin went on to explain what training is like at Spurs, with the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and what he tries to do to improve. "Ultimately, I put the pressure on myself," the 23-year-old explained.
"I want to be able to compete with all the players, so if Sonny or H is doing finishing practice, I want to be saving some of their shots and be able to make it difficult for them while also improving my own game by competing with them. They’re two of the best forwards in the world so working with them and all the senior players in the squad, it’s helping me to develop my game and take it to the next level."
Much like a number of the current first team squad, the 23-year-old has worked his way up through the academy. Austin may still be waiting to break into the regular XI at Spurs, but he was regularly involved in the matchday squad last season and still have years ahead of him to develop.
"Coming up to work with the first team, the quality is world-class. You’ve got some of the best players in the world playing and training on the same pitch as you every day, so you have to be on it every minute of every day to try to match the quality that the training sessions provide, but I feel like the Academy set me up for those habits and routines, so I believe I was as well prepared as I could have been for coming into this environment," he said.
"I feel like I’ve made progress during the last year and I’ve had some good feedback from the coaches so I’m happy with that, but now I want to keep progressing and keep improving. Any opportunities that I get, I’ll take them with both hands, try to keep elevating my game and continually learn and improve in order to be the best that I can be."
Earlier this year, Austin also signed a new contract, keeping him in N17 until at least 2024. The shot stopper highlights how much of an influence Conte has already had on him and there will be hope that this can continue, the 23-year-old can develop and one day could maybe even be Lloris' replacement.
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