Conte could unearth Spurs' next Kane in 17 y/o "diamond" who can save Levy millions - opinion

Antonio Conte could have another Harry Kane waiting in the wings at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Italian head coach is hugely light on options in the centre-forward department and that is something he and sporting director Fabio Paratici will be unable to rectify until the summer, having failed to sign anyone in the role this January.

With the north London outfit still in the FA Cup, where they will face Championship outfit Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, and firmly in the race for the top-four in the Premier League, we could well see the need for alternatives to the England international.

After all, he can’t be expected to remain 100% match fit if he starts, and plays the full duration, of every game. Therefore, Conte must seek an option from within and with the likes of Troy Parrott and Kion Etete enjoying loan spells away in the EFL, the burden call fall upon Dane Scarlett.

It’s become evident that the 17-year-old has already caught the manager’s eye, having come off the bench for a three-minute cameo in the resounding 4-0 win over Leeds on Saturday afternoon – his ninth senior appearance for the club.

He may have only played 282 minutes for the first team but Scarlett is a hugely promising goalscorer and one that has impressed in abundance for the academy system.

The talismanic teenager scored 23 goals in as many games for the U18s before being trusted to feature for the U23s, even despite his very young age. There, he has found the net four times across 12 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Conte isn’t the first manager to have seen something in the attacking gem. It was Jose Mourinho who handed him his debut and was in charge for his first direct goal contribution, an assist against Wolfsberger AC in the Europa League