Tottenham: £12.5m star 'never likely' to be key man at Hotspur Way

Tottenham signing Djed Spence was never going to go straight into Antonio Conte’s starting XI, says journalist Paul Brown.

The right-back joined Spurs from Middlesbrough during the summer and has been overlooked by his new manager since arriving at Hotspur Way.

Yes, but the 22-year-old barely got a kick in the 2-0 win against Everton after coming on as a very late substitute.

It was only his second Premier League appearance of the campaign, showing how far down he is in Conte’s pecking order.

The Italian currently favours Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty for the right wing-back position, with the latter replacing the former over the weekend due to his suspension.

It is a long season but, at this rate, Spence may need a loan move in January if he wants regular football this term.

Brown does not think Spence should be surprised by his lack of game time at Tottenham.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: "It's not been an easy start for Spence. I'm not sure what he was expecting at Spurs, but if he was expecting to go straight in the first team, that was never likely to happen."

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It is going to be a difficult task, with the Tottenham manager admitting that Spence was not a player he asked the club to sign.

However, the former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss has said that the Englishman is improving, so perhaps not all hope is lost.

"Djed, I think he is improving and starting to understand which is the demand to stay at Tottenham," Conte was recently quoted as saying by football.london. "But I’m pleased if I have more options. Then I have only to pick the best choice, I’m happy."

For now, though, it looks like