Tottenham: Mikey Moore magic leaves Ange Postecoglou facing crucial Spurs selection dilemma | OneFootball

Australian faces an important choice when it comes to the teenage sensation as the hype train gathers speed

Ange Postecoglou said it himself; it is no longer possible for the Tottenham head coach to "keep a lid" on the hype around Mikey Moore after the teenager's exhilarating performance against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

James Maddison, Tottenham's captain on the night, helped see to that, afterwards comparing Moore's 20-minute spell at the start of the second half to Neymar, but anyone watching the 17-year-old in the 1-0 win over the Dutch side could have seen what a rare talent he is.

"There's no denying he was great last night," Postecoglou said on Friday. "I thought he was great the whole game but especially in that period. Exciting for us."

Moore's display and demeanor when he moved to the left flank for the second half could scarcely have been more different to Timo Werner's in a difficult 45 minutes for the German, who missed two more big chances before being unceremoniously hooked for Brennan Johnson at the interval.

Moore oozed confidence on the ball as he surged at his defenders time and again, and fizzed balls across the box, but Werner was visibly timid in the final third.

"He needs to find a way out of it because for us in those positions we need players to make an impact," Postecoglou said of Werner.

"I thought in a couple of moments he lacked some self-belief that we need to try to restore in him somehow."

Swift rise: Mikey Moore dazzled in the second half as Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League

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With captain Heung-min Son "unlikely" to be fit to face Crystal Palace this weekend, the question for Postecoglou is who comes in on the left wing at Selhurst Park?

Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are also options but both have just returned from injury and may not be ready to start a league game.

Supporters are obviously clamouring for Moore, to the point where there would surely be an online meltdown if Werner is named in the XI at 1pm on Sunday.

In time, Moore will get his chance, with Postecoglou saying on Friday that he is "ready to start any game" and suggesting the target was for the teenager to play "15 to 20 times" this season. But Werner may still get the nod at Palace if starting Moore twice is four days is deemed risky for a still-growing youngster.

It is tempting to make comparisons with Lamine Yamal, who was thrust into the Barcelona and Spain side at just 16 and was instrumental in his country's European Championship win in the summer, lifting the trophy days after his 17th birthday.

Yamal, though, is surely a unique case - even if Moore, like the Spaniard, is remarkably robust for his age - and at the other end of the scale there is the example of Pep Guardiola's treatment of Phil Foden.

Guardiola was almost agonisingly patient with Foden, carefully managing the playmaker's minutes over a number of years until he was ready to be a regular for Manchester City. Last season was actually the first time that Foden, 24, started more than 30 league games for City, which is only partly down to their squad depth.

There are a number of factors for Postecoglou to consider in how to use Moore, most obviously whether he is the best option for a team which has lofty ambitions.

"He's ready to start a Premier League game, for sure," the head coach said. "What we want to do is to continue to develop Mikey in the right way and give him a platform to keep improving. So far, whatever we've asked of him he's made a real impact and the plan is to continue to do that."

Another consideration is whether Moore is ready for the pressure of a more important role for Spurs, and what impact the spotlight might have on his development.

Maddison's Neymar comparison evoked memories of one of Postecoglou's predecessors Mauricio Pochettino likening Marcus Edwards to Lionel Messi, which the Argentine later admitted might have been a mistake.

The difference is that Edwards managed only a single substitute appearance for Spurs, while Moore has already started twice and had a series of cameos from the bench. Edwards was also a timid character, perhaps a little slower to find his feet in the first-team environment than Moore.

"What I see with him is that he’s very mature for a 17-year-old, he handles things really well - both positive and negative," Postecoglou said.

At 17, you wonder if he keeps going like that, what is he going to be like at 20, 21?

Ange Postecoglou on Spurs starlet Mikey Moore

"He works hard every day and he’s making an impact at an age where it’s very hard to make an impact at this level."

Postecoglou's approach has tended to be if you are good enough, you are old enough, and Moore was one of three teenagers who started against AZ Alkmaar, alongside Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, while 19-year-old Odobert came off the bench.

That is good news for Moore, although Postecoglou has other options in forward areas, and will not rush the development of such a brilliant young player.

"At 17, you wonder if he keeps going like that, what is he going to be like at 20, 21? Hopefully I am still the manager that benefits from that, mate, but you never know," Postecoglou said.

There is a good chance that Postecoglou will be cautious with Moore on Sunday, leaving him on the bench and sticking with the out-of-form Werner.

But after Palace, Spurs face City in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday, with Guardiola promising to play a second-string team in what feels like another opportunity for Moore to impress and perhaps have a full game on his preferred left flank.

If the youngster continues to impress and helps Spurs to eliminate the champions next week, he will be harder and harder to overlook for the manager.