Spence is already on the backfoot at Spurs after Conte's admission

Antonio Conte's first comments about Djed Spence didn't give any particular ringing endorsement about Tottenham's new £20million signing.  

'Spence is an investment of the club,' said the Italian. 'The club wanted to do it. I said, 'OK, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us'. The club decided to buy him.'

The 21-year-old has long been a target for Spurs but Conte was very keen to get over the point that it wasn't his signing - already putting Spence on the backfoot upon his arrival at the Premier League club. 

It suggests Spence will have some work to do to convince Conte why the club were right to push so hard for him, as he faces a battle with Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal to earn a regular starting spot at the right wing-back position. 

Released by Fulham's academy and later allowed to leave Middlesbrough on loan after a falling out with manager Neil Warnock, it's not the first time that Spence has had something to prove. 

After a brilliant season at Nottingham Forest where he played a key part in Steve Cooper's side reaching the Premier League for the first time since 1999, there is optimism though that Conte can take Spence's game to the next level.  

Spence will be greeted at Hotspur Way by an old face; Ryan Sessegnon, who he played alongside during his youth team days at Fulham.

Their diverging paths to the top provides evidence in how footballers mature and develop at different speeds and how far Spence has come since 2018.

Four years ago, Sessegnon was the Championship Player of the Season with the world at his feet after helping Fulham's promotion-winning campaign.

Spence, who is 83 days his junior, was released by the Cottagers and joined Middlesbrough, while two