Five things you need to know about Spurs’ next big thing

In the world of football it’s good to keep your finger on the pulse. Knowing what’s happening is key whether you’re analysing your own team’s chances of success, keeping an eye on the opposition or just debating the biggest issues with your friends.

One area in which all football fans share a uniform interest is the ‘next big thing’. Emerging players are always a source of attention, with fledgling performances too often going under the radar when top tier action dominates the headlines.

One talent we’ve been particularly impressed by is Spurs’ Marcus Edwards, who has been shining for both club and country at youth level for some time now.

However, seeing as he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page, information on the 16-year-old attacking midfielder isn’t easy to come by, so with that in mind here are FIVE things you need to know!

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Has a real shot on him

Video of @marcusedwards__ second goal of the tournament. #THFC pic.twitter.com/niIEt1MuNv

— Tottenham Academy (@THFCacademy) May 13, 2015

Wow! Not a bad effort, right! Young Edwards sent this amazing strike crashing into the net at the European U-17 Championships earlier this year against the Republic of Ireland… and it turned out to be the winner. The teenager swivelled well on the edge of the area before wrapping his right foot around the ball, and the following shot left the ‘keeper helpless.

Really impressed at the U-17 Euros

In the very same tournament in which he rose to prominence with the goal (previous slide) against ROI, Edwards really impressed. Even though the Three Lions were eliminated in the first knockout game against Russia, the Spurs man netted twice through the competition, and earned himself a spot in the team of the tournament. Only one other Englishman, Chris Willock, made it in.

Sherwood approves

Tim Sherwood divides opinion. His brash, ‘centre-of-attention’ ways on the touchline irk many, but underneath the bravado lies a pretty competent football manager – after all, he impressed while in charge of Spurs and kept Aston Villa in the Premier League last season while getting them to an FA Cup final. Like or loathe ‘Tactics Tim’ his opinion counts, and it seems that he’s a big fan of Edwards. Writing in the Independent, Sherwood said:

“Currently in the academy at Spurs there is a 15-year-old, Marcus Edwards, who is already playing for England Under-17s. He is the kind of player who, as a coach, makes you look forward to walking out on to that pitch in the morning. Everyone in development football has heard of Marcus. He is a gifted technician with a low centre of gravity, who can pass off either foot or dribble past opponents.

“When I was at Spurs, I would persuade anyone and everyone at the training ground to come over to see him train. He is a joy to watch. Again, he is the kind of player who might not always get a game. There might be a bigger boy who could be more effective on that given day, but in time Marcus has the potential to be a great player, a make-the-difference footballer. He can win you a game. These are the kind of talented players that we must not neglect.”

A glowing reference.

Barcelona have been looking…

As is the case with any young payer now, the biggest sides are aware of Edwards’ progress. Catalans, Barcelona, are believed to be looking at him as they plot for the future, which is high praise indeed considering their famed ‘La Masia’ academy set-up has produced and nurtured some of the finest talent on the planet for quite a while.

He has a lot of love for Cyprus

With Edwards still just 16 he remains some way from representing England at a senior level, but he is a regular in youth action. And in his playing time he’s already encountered some ‘heartstring-tugging’ when he netted against Cyprus, his mother’s home nation.

Speaking to the FA’s official website after scoring against the Mediterranean side in Euro qualification action, he said:

“It was a weird feeling,

“And I didn’t really want to celebrate as I’d discussed it with my family and friends at school beforehand.

“I didn’t think I was allowed, I’d have been told off by my aunties – so I just jumped with the nearest person to me.

“But afterwards they were just saying how proud they were.”