Djed Spence has admitted he had a ‘point to prove’ both to Tottenham Hotspur and himself ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Spurs signed Spence for a fee reaching £20m (per Sky Sports) in July 2022 following an impressive loan spell at Nottingham Forest from parent club Middlesbrough.
However, Spence played just six times for Spurs across all competitions and has since had to clock up 33 appearances on loan at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa combined.
Now 24 years old, it was unclear what the plan was for Spence upon his return to Spurs in the summer but it appears he has a role under Ange Postecoglou.
Despite being limited by a groin injury, Spence has played four times across all competitions, scoring his first goal for Tottenham in the 2-1 comeback win over Coventry in the EFL Cup.
Djed Spence has a ‘point to prove’ at Spurs
Spence recently earned a new contract and will hope to keep impressing Postecoglou when he returns to fitness.
The full-back certainly feels like he has a point to prove.
“It was a good pre-season, I felt good and I felt sharp. I wanted to come back [from Italy] and just be the best I could be, the best version of myself. That’s all you can do, put in your best effort and try to be the best player on the pitch,” Spence told Tottenham’s official matchday programme for the Man City match (via Football.London).
“I’m a determined player. I’d probably say I had a point to prove here and also a point to prove to myself. I wanted to show everyone what I know I’m capable of and how good a player l am. I had the same mentality going into this one, I knew what I needed to do to try to give my best and keep moving forward.”
On his difficult Spurs career so far, he added: “It hasn’t been easy. But you learn from everything. Whether that’s being abroad, being away from your family or the change of culture – whatever you may face – you learn from them all so it’s made me stronger mentally and they’ve all been great life experiences.
“I’ve also had a few injuries that have set me back so you just have to be strong mentally, stay focused, train hard, be around good people and there is always a way back to greatness and to be the player you know you can become.
“It’s been a difficult couple of years for me personally, but I think this year will be a good one for me. The manager has been great. He has his way of playing and we’ve bought into it – it’s been relentless in a good way!
“We play great football and that comes down to hard work in training as we play how we train. No matter what the style of play, as a player you always have to learn and adapt so you have to put your mind to it, buy into it and then we can go to great places.
“It’s different from what I’ve been used to. I’m always willing to learn and I’m a good learner as well. It requires certain abilities and I believe I have those, so it’s just a new position to add to the toolbox and it’s good for me.
“You pick up good positions, one minute you’re left-back, next you’re in midfield and then in the 10 position, so it’s a good role to try to master and I think it’s a good role for me personally in terms of my development as a player.”
