Luca Williams-Barnett: Meet Tottenham wonderkid who has coaches raving and is on the brink of his debut | OneFootball

Creativity, goals and a ‘go-for-it mindset’, why 16-year-old starlet is generating enormous excitement at Spurs

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

Asked what his targets were for the weeks ahead, there was no lack of confidence in Luca Williams-Barnett's answer.

"Win every game and score in every game," he declared.

On current evidence, the latter part of that equation does not feel particularly implausible. The 16-year-old has enjoyed a stunning start to the season for Tottenham's academy in his first campaign with the Under-21 side, and the club already face a decision of how quickly to progress him.

Williams-Barnett scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in a 6-3 win over Leicester last week, taking his PL2 tally to four goals and two assists in four appearances.

He also scored and assisted in the UEFA Youth League against Villarreal, as he did when Spurs faced Bristol Rovers in the EFL trophy.

Luca Williams-Barnett has made a brilliant start to the season for Spurs Under-21s

Getty Images

There have been international returns, too. Called up for the England U18s side at the start of the month, Williams-Barnett was on the scoresheet against both Canada and Uzbekistan.

He was left out of the Spurs U21 squad on Tuesday in a potential hint that he will be involved in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Frank also suggested as much.

"He's a player that we like a lot," Frank said. "Let's see tomorrow, but that could be an opportunity."

Williams-Barnett has trained with the first team already this season and has caught the eye of the Spurs boss.

"I'm well aware of Luca's talent and I like what I see," Frank said. "He's young, obviously, but his composure and technique and vision is very good."

The teenager, capable of playing in attacking midfield or up front, has been one of the stars of the club's academy as he has gone through the age ranks. His U18 boss Stuart Lewis made some lofty comparisons last season.

"He loves football. He's such an exciting, creative player," Lewis said.

"I spoke in the week about Tottenham players and having that creativity and that go-for-it mindset. We've loved Ginola over the years, we've loved Berbatov, those players.

Luca Williams-Barnett was called up to the England Under-18s side this month

The FA via Getty Images

“Luca's still got a lot of work to do. He's an Under-16 player but throughout the season there's been some unbelievable moments."

It is not hard to see why Spurs fans are incredibly excited about Williams-Barnett, who has already had a taste of the first-team squad.

Ange Postecoglou named him on the bench for the Europa League trip to Galatasaray last season, just a few weeks after he had turned 16. That was a last-minute decision, with U21s boss Wayne Burnett putting in calls to get him excused from school and academy goalkeeping coach Dean Brill driving to the family home overnight to pick up his passport.

Williams-Barnett was in the squad for three consecutive European matches and was also on the bench in December last year against Fulham in the Premier League.

He is yet to make his first-team debut but his form has raised the prospect of some involvement against Doncaster on Wednesday.

Whether Thomas Frank decides Williams-Barnett is ready to get on the pitch remains to be seen, but a home tie against League One opposition does present the chance for rotation and opportunities for academy prospects.

Regardless of if it comes this week or not, Williams-Barnett appears to be on an inevitable march first-team minutes in the not so distant future. That much is obvious to fans, coaches and, of course, the teenager himself.

"I can't wait until I'm in the Premier League, scoring for Tottenham, making the fans happy," Williams-Barnett said last season. "I just can't wait."