AMSTERDAM – Fresh Tottenham catch DeAndre Yedlin made his club debut with a decent 60-minute shift for the reserves as they tentatively moved to the top of the Under-21 Premier League with a 3-1 away victory over local rivals West Ham United on Friday night.
Starting at right back, the US international had a couple of hairy defensive moments during the opening half hour, but settled to enjoy a solid first Spurs run-out. He helped keep Hammers halftime sub Sebastian Lletget quiet for 15 minutes, and then departed shortly after the home side bagged the winning goal.
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"It took me a little bit to get into it," Yedlin told Spurs TV after the contest. "Once I got comfortable, I felt better. It was a great experience to see what this level was like and I thought it went pretty well. I’m looking forward to progressing and helping the team in any way I can."
The win lifted the team into the U-21 Premier League penthouse, a point above Manchester City. Both, however, could be passed by their Southampton counterparts on Monday.
It's conceivable that Yedlin's next competitive appearance in a Tottenham shirt could come with the senior side, as the U-21's next league match doesn't arrive until they host Leicester City on January 26. Mauricio Pochettino's White Hart Lane crew will have played four games by then, with another pair slated for the last five days of the month.
