Tottenham: Dejan Kulusevski backs 'great player' Dane Scarlett to shine for depleted Spurs | OneFootball

Young striker can help fill the void left by Dominic Solanke’s injury after scoring against Elfsborg in the Europa League

Dejan Kulusevski believes Dane Scarlett can be important for depleted Tottenham in the second half of the season after the striker was one of three academy graduates to score in Thursday's win over IF Elfsborg in the Europa League.

Scarlett, 20, broke the deadlock with his first Spurs goal - a fine header from Kulusevski's cross - minutes after coming off the bench and then set up fellow youngster Damola Ajayi, 19, for the second goal. Mikey Moore, 17, also scored in stoppage time, as Ange Postecoglou's side booked their place in the last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 win.

"We had a look at his situation," Postecoglou explained. "He has had a couple of disappointing loans. Sending him out again without any sort of real prospect of him developing, we just felt let’s keep him training with us and give him an opportunity to train with us and play with us and see how it goes."

Kulusevski is convinced that Scarlett can make an impact for Spurs, who are currently missing Dominic Solanke to a knee injury, and says the young players have added energy to Postecoglou's stretched squad.

"They have to [listen] as young players, but the important thing is they come and give everything they can," said the Swede. "They changed the game and I love Dane Scarlett a lot. I think he is a great player and I believe he will help us these months.

"It was a great goal so I’m very happy for him. Also the other players that scored, they have to give the energy now. We have a lot of injuries and they did an amazing job."

Scarlett made his Spurs debut as a 16-year-old in November 2020, with then-manager Jose Mourinho tipping him for the top. But his progress has stalled amid underwhelming loan spells at Portsmouth, Ipswich and Oxford in each of the last three seasons.

"I've been waiting for so long for that one chance to fall for me and today it came," Scarlett said. "It's just the start really, I just want to kick on and keep doing it. Tonight I just wanted to get on the pitch in a Spurs shirt again and play.

"I knew as soon as Deki [Kulusevski] got the ball, it could come in the box because pre-season I scored one of them as well where he crossed it. So I just attacked it and thankfully it came straight onto my head.

"It was surreal, really. It happened so fast. It was just a good feeling that went through my body and I want plenty more of them.

"I really enjoyed my loan. I got some games, I would've wanted to get more but I feel like I gained a lot of experience from that loan and I've played a different style of football. I think it will help when I'm involved here. I'm just grateful for the opportunity. I've been waiting a long time to get a chance."

Postecoglou made a pre-planned triple change at half-time against Elfsborg, with captain Heung-min Son, the returning Micky van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur making way.

Kulusevski, who was one of the players introduced, is hopeful that a fresher Spurs can now address their alarming Premier League slump at Brentford on Sunday.

"We have to climb the ladder and we have a great chance on Sunday," he said. "A couple of players rested like me. I only played 45, Sonny only played 45, Micky is back and played 45. I think we’re going to be more fresh and ready to win that game.”