Spurs loan watch: Defender rescues a point on the continent | OneFootball

On Friday evening, there was Belgian Pro League action for Luka Vuskovic, Alfie Devine, and their KVC Westerlo side. For the 12th game in a row, both loanees were in the starting XI. Whilst Vuskovic, as usual, played as the right sided centre back in a four, Devine’s role was slightly tweaked – playing as one of two number eights in a new 4141 set up by manager Timmy Simons.

How things went for two youngsters in the Belgian Pro League

After a pretty lowkey start to the game, Westerlo would go behind ten minutes from the end of the first half, after a pretty flat performance. That would be the only goal of the first half, and their visitors would go into the break one goal to the good.

The second half, however, was a much improved performance. Just as it looked like they weren’t going to make their dominance count, Vuskovic rose highest to head home from a corner, and level the game up at 1-1. Three minutes later, Westerlo missed a big opportunity to turn the game around completely.

Despite a late onslaught in stoppage time, the young Spurs loanee’s sides were unable to find that winner, as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils – making it five games without a win, and leaving them just five points ahead of a relegation round spot, having played a game more than the side in the final position.

As tends to be the case, Vuskovic played the full 90 minutes, recording five clearances, one blocked shot, two interceptions, one tackle, and six aerial duels won, to go along with his goal. Meanwhile, Devine was taken off with around 25 minutes to go – after a fairly unassuming performance.

Similar to what was touched on above, Westerlo remain in 10th place in the Pro League, and could drop to 12th by the end of the weekend, just one place above the relegation round spots. On an individual level, both loan spells have been extremely productive - but they would have for sure liked the collective to have been a bit bettter at this stage.

That was their last game before Christmas. Next up is a tough game away to Club Brugge on Boxing Day – their final game of 2024, before a sixteen day break until their next game. Kick off for the game against Brugge is 15:00 GMT.