Tottenham youngster Lucas Bergvall insists he understands his lack of Premier League game time so far under Ange Postecoglou.
The 18-year-old arrived in north London during the summer after a deal with Swedish outfit Djurgårdens IF was agreed in February, and caught the eye of many supporters as he impressed during several pre-season outings.
However, with competition for places in Spurs' midfield so fierce, Bergvall has found senior minutes hard to come by since the campaign got underway.
Having said that, half of the teenager's 10 appearances across all competitions have come as a starter; all four Europa League fixtures and the Carabao Cup third-round win over Coventry in September.
Although he's yet to complete a full game in a Spurs shirt and has been limited to just 46 minutes of Premier League action thus far, prompting the youngster to admit it's been a mixed start to life in N17.
“There have been many matches recently and a lot of rotations in the team. It still feels good. I’m getting warmed up," Bergvall told Swedish publication Fotbollskanalen, as per Sport Witness. "It’s been a bit up and down.
"It was a very good game against AZ [Alkmaar] and then a less good game, really, against Gala [Galatasaray]."
Bergvall started the game against Galatasaray before being substituted just after the hour mark as a 10-man Spurs side slumped to a 3-2 defeat in Turkey, with Postecoglou insisting the fixture wasn’t easy for the youngster.
In response to the Tottenham manager's view, the midfielder is aware that he wasn't at his best against the Turkish champions but feels it was a learning experience nonetheless and that opportunities in the Europa League can only aid his development.
“Yes, it’s clear that there is a lot I can take from that match. It was a tough game for the whole team. We were not up to par,” he explained. “We have to do everything we can to improve for next time, because these are the kind of games you play in Europe. With an incredible setting, a lot of fans and a good opposing team.
“Especially us youngsters who haven’t played that many games in Europe can learn from it. It’s part of a career. It’s important to capitalise on it.”
