Roberto De Zerbi believes Tottenham’s highly-rated youngster Luca Williams-Barnett is ready to start matches.
Williams-Barnett produced a sparkling cameo as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace with one exhilarating dribble past three opponents demonstrating why there has been excitement around the 18-year-old for a long time.
It was Williams-Barnett’s second appearance of the campaign after a brief run-out against Charlton in the Carabao Cup and his first in the Premier League, but ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds, De Zerbi insisted the teenager is ready for a full debut and he considered it at Chelsea last month.
“The pre-season, it was clear (he is) a special talent. You recognise the special talent immediately and he doesn’t need to show something special, you understand? Everything that he does (is enough) and he is one of the special talents,” De Zerbi said.
“The next step he has to enjoy, he has to follow the older players, the players with more experience like (Andy) Robertson, (James) Maddison, Ben Davies and to find the time to play.
“It is my responsibility because when you manage young players and so big talents like Luca, it is a bigger responsibility for me.
“He has to be ready when he goes on the pitch. I think it (does) not depend on the result, he can play from the beginning. Before the Chelsea game, I thought to play with him in the first XI, but in the end you have to find the right moment and for them also.
“I think the age is not so important. The most important is the quality, personality, the behaviour on the pitch and the qualities. And Luca has all of these qualities.”
Whether Williams-Barnett starts at Elland Road remains to be seen, but De Zerbi will have more reinforcements with Rodrigo Bentancur available again in midfield after suspension and Tosin Adarabioyo fit.
Lucas Bergvall, Mykhailo Mudryk, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain absent.
Spurs could claim a fourth consecutive league win if they clinch all three points at Leeds, but De Zerbi declined to set any public targets.
He said: “We have many, many targets, but I think we can’t move our focus (from) game by game, because we are not able yet. We are not good enough yet to change the focus.
“Now we are building, I think, something special (with) the atmosphere in the dressing room.
“We are building a clear style of play ad the players are playing much better than in the beginning.
“Now I am happy for the performance, delighted for the behaviour and I think we can improve a lot in all aspects of football, but we have to show to be this Tottenham for a long time. Not just three games or four games.
“Tomorrow is another test. A different test because the atmosphere in the stadium is tough, but we have to enjoy with this atmosphere.”
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