Such was the suspicion when José Mourinho named Japhet Tanganga in his starting XI to face Liverpool last weekend that many immediately concluded that the 20-year-old was little more than an unsubtle message to Daniel Levy to buy him a new defender: some kind of passive-aggressive email to the boss made flesh. Yet he has now been the club’s best player in successive matches.

If Tanganga was solid on Saturday he was superb in the dark and drizzle on Tuesday night: positionally intelligent, defensively resolute and a surprisingly effective attacking outlet to boot. His two performances have been all the more impressive considering the abject state of the Tottenham defence he has been parachuted into. Against Liverpool, he had to be perpetually aware of Serge Aurier’s breezy strolls forward. Against Middlesbrough, he meanwhile had to compensate for a Sánchez performance so bad it became difficult not to be deafened by an internal rendition of the Yakety Sax every time the ball went anywhere near him.

Such was Tanganga’s influence on the game that no player from either side had more touches of the ball. It is already difficult to envisage how Mourinho can leave him out for the trip to Watford on Saturday, particularly as his inclusion on the right-hand side of an asymmetrical defence presents the similarly impressive 19-year-old Ryan Sessegnon with so many opportunities to break free on the left. Interestingly: neither had much of a look in under Mauricio Pochettino.

Last summer, Pochettino had earmarked Tanganga for a possible breakthrough, playing him in pre-season friendlies against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and inviting him to train with the first-team. Yet he would play him just once before his dismissal: in September’s dismal Carabao Cup defeat by Colchester. The result seemed to spook Pochettino: with Tanganga, 17-year-old striker Troy Parrott and 19-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp all withdrawn in the second-half and barely seen under him again.

Tottenham's most talented young players Show all 11 1 /11 Tottenham's most talented young players Tottenham's most talented young players Tottenham's most talented youngsters Upon joining Tottenham Hotspur, manager Jose Mourinho immediately pledged to trust in Tottenham’s young players. But who are the most talented youngsters at the club? Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I Tottenham's most talented young players Japhet Tanganga, 20 The defender was handed his Premier League debut in the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool. Played so well that he retained his place for the Middlesbrough FA Cup replay, where he almost scored and was named man of the match. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I Tottenham's most talented young players Ryan Sessegnon, 19 Tottenham’s summer signing is still only 19. His start in north London was hampered by injury. But he has rapidly earned Mourinho’s trust and is now keeping Danny Rose out of the starting XI. Getty Images Tottenham's most talented young players Gedson Fernandes, 21 The 21-year-old was signed from Benfica, initially on loan with an option to buy. Likely to deputise for the injured Moussa Sissoko in midfield. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I Tottenham's most talented young players Juan Foyth, 22 Appeared the best placed of all Tottenham’s young players to breakthrough into the first-team under Mauricio Pochettino. But has struggled in recent weeks and there are rumours he wants to quit the club. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I Tottenham's most talented young players Troy Parrott, 17 Handed his Premier League debut by Mourinho in the 5-0 win over Burnley. Has rather disappeared from view since but is in the process of signing a new contract. Action Images via Reuters Tottenham's most talented young players Oliver Skipp, 19 Was a fringe player under Pochettino. It will be interesting to see whether the teenager can step up under Mourinho, although he reportedly wishes to go out on loan to an English club for the remainder of the season if he does not start getting more game time. Getty Images Tottenham's most talented young players Tashan Oakley-Boothe, 19 One of England’s U-17 World Cup winners. One of the club’s most exciting prospects for a long time now — although could do with a loan move to further his development AFP/Getty Images Tottenham's most talented young players Dennis Cirkin, 17 The left back impressed Mourinho in an early training session and has been in the first-team mix ever since. Was an unused substitute in the win over Middlesbrough. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I Tottenham's most talented young players Luis Binks, 17 The rangy defender is now a regular for the England U-18 team and, like Tanganga, can operate at both centre back and out wide. Getty Images Tottenham's most talented young players J'Neil Bennett, 18 The left winger became the first ever player to score at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium in a youth match last season. Exceptionally quick, he has impressed when called upon in the Premier League 2. Getty Images

It continued a worrying trend. Initially so willing to trust in youth at both Southampton and Spurs, Pochettino’s increasing reluctance to drop ailing senior players for talented academy products became one of the most significant failures of his time at the club. Under Pochettino, a frustrated Tanganga began stalling on signing a new contract. Danny Rose was preferred to Sessegnon. Highly-rated prospects like Skipp and 22-year-old defenders Juan Foyth and Kyle Walker-Peters were rarely used and yet not loaned out to continue their development. Others, like midfielders Josh Onomah and Marcus Edwards, were sold. Edwards is now playing so well at Vitória de Guimarães that he has even been linked with an unlikely move back to the club.

Pochettino largely escaped criticism for Tottenham’s talent pool running dry because he had started his tenure by helping to bring through the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks. But his stubborn refusal to allow the club’s more talented academy players to leave on loan only stunted their development. And, at the bitter end of his time in north London — when the likes of Rose, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen were so clearly off the pace — he had no readied young players to turn to. Trusting in youth was no longer an option.

It is here that Mourinho can learn from Pochettino’s mistakes.

When he replaced Pochettino, Mourinho immediately pledged to “play young players and help them evolve”. These are still early days, and Mourinho’s decision not to name Parrott in his matchday squad last night caused some consternation among the club’s more committed fans, but the faith he has shown in both Tanganga and Sessegnon as well as this morning’s acquisition of 21-year-old midfielder Gedson Fernandes at least suggests that he intends to stay true to his word.

Trusting in Tottenham’s young players will please both Levy and the club’s supporters — but it benefits Mourinho, too. One of the oft-repeated criticisms of Mourinho is that he is uninspiring. That he is too pragmatic and reactive. That, in a new age of adventurous ideologies and philosophies, he is stale and old and outmoded. Already, there have been grumbles that it is difficult to discern what his Spurs side are trying to do. But dutifully ushering in a new generation of talent helps to alleviate a lot of those criticisms. It gives supporters a reason to be patient, as well as providing them with something to believe in.