Who is Ashley Phillips? The Tottenham youngster Ange Postecoglou could hand debut vs Wolves

Ashley Phillips could potentially make his Tottenham Hotspur debut against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday if Ange Postecoglou names him in his starting XI

Ashley Phillips could potentially be in line to make his Tottenham Hotspur debut against Wolves on Saturday afternoon. Following Monday evening’s 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, Ange Postecoglou has a lack of options available to him at centre-back with Cristian Romero suspended for three games and Micky van de Ven not expected to return from a hamstring injury until early next year.

With Destiny Udogie also banned for the game at Molineux after receiving two yellow cards in the Chelsea defeat, the Spurs boss will have to change three of his four-man defence. Eric Dier looks a certainty to start but it remains to be seen who will partner him at the back.

Tottenham were already light at centre-back before the huge Romero and Van de Ven blows, with Phillips now next in line behind Dier in the pecking order after Davinson Sanchez’s September exit to Galatasaray. Featuring on the bench for Spurs three times this season but so far yet to make an appearance for the club, Postecoglou has a big decision to make over Phillips.

Here, football.london gives you the lowdown on Tottenham’s summer signing.

Coming through Blackburn Rovers’ system and going on to make his debut for the Lancashire club against Hartlepool United in the EFL Cup in August 2022, the talented 18-year-old had come to the attention of a number of clubs following an impressive first year at Ewood Park. The Salford-born defender went on to make 14 appearances in all competitions under manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, eight of those coming in the Championship.

It was perhaps no surprise at all that Phillips had progressed from the academy to the first team, with Tomasson’s predecessor, Tony Mowbray, waxing lyrical about the defender and labelling him as “phenomenal”.