Oliver Skipp has played all but 63 minutes of Norwich City’s Championship campaign to date.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was in need of regular gametime, turning 20 in September and looking to really kickstart his senior career.
Skipp made just seven appearances under Jose Mourinho, following the Portuguese boss’ appointment in November last year, and was sent out on loan in the summer.
Relegated Norwich City were the suitors, hoping the midfielder could be a lynchpin in a promotion-chasing side.
And so it has proved.
Skipp has started all 21 of the Canaries’ Championship outings, helping them lead the way at the top by four points.
That could have been seven points but for a Boxing Day defeat away to Watford. It was in that game, however, that Skipp again showed his quality.
One moment in particular really caught the eye of the Spurs fans.
With 40 minutes on the clock, the England Under-21 international collected the ball 10 yards outside his own box, drove past two Watford players to the half-way line and sent a piercing through ball to the on-rushing Teemu Pukki, who took the ball into the box but was eventually forced away from goal.
It was a moment that again highlighted the many qualities Skipp has, and got Tottenham supporters talking on Twitter.
@TottenhamChron: Most loan moves don’t work out. Oliver Skipp has owned Norwich's midfield from day one. This demonstrates at the very least that he has the right attitude to succeed.
@n_whited: He feeds that to Kane or Son it’s getting picked from the back of the net.
@TheHotspurHouse: So excited to see him play with us next season!
@Gillions88: Winks should be worried.
@MPN1766: Love him, when he came on vs Bayern and went flying into tackles without a care in the world you knew that we have a special player.
@Bagman_Sports: He's gaining confidence each game.
@faadsarooq: Beautiful, hope he can be integrated into the main team quickly.
@dangreasby: Imagine of he’d had a loan like this 3 years ago, he would easily be a first team player by now.
@jcollinsthfc: This kid is going to the very top.
It is not only Spurs fans who think Skipp can go “to the very top”.
In July, Mourinho labelled him a “future captain” after rewarding the youngster with a new long-term contract.
“He feels that he needs that (loan move), I also feel that would be good for his evolution, so maybe that is the direction we go,” said Mourinho.
“I think he can be more than a player, he can be a future captain here. Hugo, Harry. I see this kid being one day a future captain here by his character, by his personality. I feel really happy that he signed.”
