Scouting Tottenham academy midfielder Rio Kyerematen

Kyerematen is more of a modern #8 who has the capacity to drop alongside the pivot in build-up phases while he then goes into the higher zones to link play. The right-footed central midfielder is quoted as neat when it comes to half-turns. He is also comfortable working in the inside channels rather than living on the touchline.

He adds that balances usually. He is secure enough to be trusted in the first phase of play. But then he has that forward-minded thinking which adds value in the final third.

When he is playing for the academy, Rio generally acts in more of a rhythm-setter role. He is always taking the first pass after a regain, or you see him bouncing one-twos to escape pressure. Generally you also see him pushing the team up the pitch without risky long carries.

He is more of a natural fit for a side that thinks possession first, and then if they are thinking central progression, he is your ideal prospect.

He is someone who likes to take passes under pressure but is also good at laying those off in safe spaces. At times he tries to lay it off into runners.

Playing where he does, it’s very important to know the game around him. And that is where you see Rio constantly looking over his shoulders before receiving and choosing angles that keep options alive. Ideally this keeps structure compact and reduces turnovers, and it is something that Thomas Frank will love to add in his second phase.

Generally he is someone who presents one-two touch passes and escapes. He is not someone who would go on solo runs quite often. And he is also good at disguising some balls into wide players.

One thing about his game is his defensive ability. He is not your regular young player who will dive into challenges, but he will try to delay by narrowing passing lanes. In rest defence, he stays connected to the centre-backs to kill counters through the middle.

Where does Rio need to work to earn a first-team shout?

While a lot of what he does at the base is tidy, he needs to add more armour into the final third. He needs to target more shots from zone 14. Maybe he can also add cleaner cut-backs to underlapping runners.

And while there are progressive disguises in his game, they need to be at more volume. These vertical passes become necessary in highly tactical games.

He can also do a bit with getting his positions apt. But this we expect should come with time and involvement in and around the first team.

How can he fit in the current system at N17?

Thomas Frank is using a double pivot where one plays in a screener base role while the other is in the connector role. And for Kyerematen, ideally, the best path into the first team is as that connector. He can help the North Londoners beat the first press and then step beyond the ball to combine in channel triangles.

But for that he needs to pick a few things up. Ideally there is a lot of potential in him, but he needs to develop a bit more before earning a first-team shout.