Mauricio Pochettino has praised Tottenham debutant Oliver Skipp for his performance against Burnley.
Having played just three Premier League minutes off the bench before this weekend, Skipp, 18, was handed a full debut in the place of England international Eric Dier, absent through illness.
Skipp was robbed of the ball in midfield after just four minutes, but never looked back, putting in an impressive, assured performance before being replaced by Heung-min Son late on.
Pochettino revealed that the young midfielder had been surprisingly relaxed before the game, a trait the Spurs boss says hints at a big career.
"He was fantastic," Pochettino said. "I think he played like a 30-year-old man. So relaxed, trying to play forward and trying to give the team what the team needs, plenty of energy, full energy, I am so proud of him.
"I think everyone is proud of him. He is only 18-years-old and I think it was fantastic. Now I think it is going to be easy for him because always the debut you are nervous.
"I remember when it was my first game and I said to him 'you look so relaxed. When I was 17, going to play I was so nervous'. I said 'that is the difference between a player going to be a top player and a player who was going to be normal player like me'.
"He in the last few months, of course in the USA in pre-season he shows that he can cope with the pressure to play in the first team and it was only about time and the possibility to give the opportunity. We are so happy. I want to congratulate the people in the academy, John [McDermott, academy head], Dean [Rastrick, academy manager] and the coaches and staff who work in education.
"I think to build his career with him and to help him to build his career is fantastic. The work they are doing is amazing and we need to profit from this work to provide the team that energy and quality player because he is a very good kid, a very good person and it is a fantastic thing for Tottenham."
Goalscorer Eriksen was also quick to praise his teammate. Speaking to TV reporters after the game, the Dane said: "He has come up out of nowhere in training and pre-season, he is learning he is not scared of anything, he made the first mistake in the game but he didn’t make one after."
