Tottenham youths Shaq Coulthirst and Grant Ward set for loans to York and Coventry

Shaq Coulthirst is keen to develop out on loan

Tottenham youngsters Shaquile Coulthirst and Grant Ward are set to join York City and Coventry City respectively on loan for the rest of the season.

Coulthirst, 20, recently enjoyed a successful spell with Southend, scoring four goals in 25 appearances for the Shrimpers.

Ward, 20, also had a successful time on loan at MLS side Chicago Fire last year where he made 23 appearances, scoring once.

Tottenham are keen for both players to continue their development in the Football League, having long since developed a policy of sending their youths to the lower divisions.

It is something that has proven to be a successful route to the first-team for Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason and Danny Rose – and both the club and manager Mauricio Pochettino want to push through an increasing number of academy players into the first-team in the coming seasons.

Coulthirst and Ward are from the same academy year-group as Alex Pritchard and Ryan Fredericks, both currently on successful loans at Brentford and Middlesbrough respectively, and all four will be given the chance to prove themselves to Pochettino in a major assessment of Spurs’ youth players this coming pre-season.

Pritchard recently told Sky Sports he believed there is a bright future for young players at White Hart Lane.

“They should be proud of themselves. They’re still young and they're a talented group," he said.

"Ryan, Harry, Nabil and all the other young players have worked hard in training and that’s the main reason behind their success. Long may it continue.”