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‘Quality player’: Manager wowed by Spurs loanee, hails his creativity and distribution from midfield
Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate Harvey White has been praised by Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett, who described him as a “quality player”.
The 19-year-old, a central midfielder who can also fill in at left-back and centre-half, has enjoyed a successful rise through the Spurs academy ranks.
White was a regular in Jose Mourinho’s training sessions since his appointment as head coach last November, and is rated highly by the Portuguese.
He was on the bench a number of times in the Europa League so far this term and made his competitive debut in the recent 4-0 win over Ludogorets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In addition, White had been playing regularly for Tottenham’s Under-23s in the Premier League 2, where he scored three goals in nine appearances in 2020-21.
The Spurs gem – who recently penned a new contract until 2024 – joined Portsmouth on loan during the January transfer window, where he has made five substitute appearances.
Tom Naylor and Andy Cannon remain Jackett’s preferred midfield duo, but the Pompey boss is nonetheless very impressed with what he’s seen from White so far.
‘Harvey played an excellent pass right at the end against Swindon on Tuesday (a 2-0 win) that nearly played Ellis Harrison in,” he told .
“There are good signs and I feel offers creativity and distribution from midfield.
“Tottenham wanted him to come in, compete and have this experience.
“Of course, he and Spurs would want him to have game-time but he is at the good club where there is good competition.
“I’ve been pleased with what he’s done and been very impressed by him.
“I’m sure he will keep pushing hard and when he gets his chance, because he’s getting substitute appearances at the minute, he will take some shifting because I do feel he is a quality player.”
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White has been tipped for success at senior level, with Mourinho him a “talented kid” who, like Jack Clarke, belongs with the first-team squad.
And he is highly rated amongst fans too, penning a detailed feature article about him in 2019 in which he described the player as a “valiant and extremely creative young central midfielder”.
White may have not got too much game time at Portsmouth just yet but the onus is on him to win a role in the XI – and a player with his talent and attitude is bound to do so eventually.