Tottenham youngster ‘can go right to the top’ – Pritchard

Alex Pritchard believes fellow Tottenham youngster Ryan Mason “can go right to the top”.

Mason, 23, has become a surprise part of Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino’s squad and made his full debut in the recent 1-1 draw against rivals Arsenal.

Pritchard, currently on loan at Brentford, has developed alongside Mason in Tottenham’s youth academy and they were both on loan at Swindon last season.

And although he admits a degree of envy at his friend’s success, Pritchard believes Mason deserved his chance after a long wait.

“Its great to see Ryan doing so well; to have come on and scored and then got his start against Arsenal,” Pritchard told West London Sport.

“He can go right to the top with his ability. He’s got his head screwed on and is a good professional.

“He’s waited longer for his chance than he probably should have, but he has the dedication. He’s a great lad and he deserves what he’s getting right now.

“Of course I do look at that and think ‘I want a bit of that’. But I’m not there, I’m away from it, playing football and concentrating on myself at Brentford.”

Pritchard, who is part of England’s Under-21s squad for the double-header of European Championship qualifiers against Croatia, has enjoyed a successful start at  Griffin Park, scoring his second goal in 10 appearances in the win against Reading at the weekend.

Another successful graduate of Spurs’ academy, Andros Townsend, has spoken of the importance of going out on loan to lower-division sides, stating his time at clubs like Yeovil “manned me up”.

And Pritchard said: “It does man you up – that’s what happened to me at Swindon and is here at Brentford.

“Playing a whole season with big guys smashing into you all the time, you have to get up and get on with it.

“You’ve got to be ready for a new environment – people you don’t know. You learn a lot.”

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