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Mauricio Pochettino has told football.london exactly what he told teenager Oliver Skipp before his first competitive start for Tottenham Hotspur.

The 18-year-old midfielder started Saturday's match against Burnley at Wembley, becoming the 13th academy player that Pochettino has brought through to play competitively for the first team since arriving at Spurs in 2014.

Skipp played for 75 minutes in the 1-0 victory against the Clarets in a calm and composed performance, having already come off the bench against Southampton in the Premier League this month and previously made his senior debut as a substitute against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.

Pochettino explained exactly what he thought of the teenager's performance and how highly he rates him.

"Fantastic, fantastic, I think he played like a 30-year-old man. So relaxed, trying to play forward and trying to give the team what the team needs, plenty of energy, full energy, I am so proud of him," he told football.london.

"I think everyone is proud of him. He is only 18-years-old and I think it was fantastic. Now I think it is going to be easy for him because always the debut you are nervous. I remember when it was my first game and I said to him 'you look so relaxed. When I was 17, going to play I was so nervous'. I said 'that is the difference between a player going to be a top player and a player who was going to be normal player like me'."

(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

He added: "He in the last few months, of course in the USA in pre season he shows that he can cope with the pressure to play in the first team and it was only about time and the possibility to give the opportunity.

"We are so happy. I want to congratulate the people in the academy, John [McDermott, academy head], Dean [Rastrick, academy manager] and the coaches and staff who work in education.

"I think to build his career with him and to help him to build his career is fantastic. The work they are doing is amazing and we need to profit from this work to provide the team that energy and quality player because he is a very good kid, a very good person and it is a fantastic thing for Tottenham."

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