Tottenham youngster Mikey Moore has revealed that it felt like he was "playing FIFA" after making his Premier League debut against Man City. Making a real impression for the club's youngsters this term, the 16-year-old has been included on the Spurs bench in their last four outings after impressing Ange Postecoglou in training.
Unfortunately an unused substitute in the Chelsea, Liverpool and Burnley games, the attacker was rewarded for his hard work at Hotspur Way with a cameo appearance in Tuesday evening's 2-0 defeat to Man City. Replacing James Maddison in the first couple of minutes of second-half stoppage time, Moore did manage to get a couple of touches of the ball as he looked to make his mark on his full Spurs bow.
The starlet's appearance off the bench means he is now the club's youngster ever player in the Premier League after making his debut at the age of 16 years, nine months and three days. Speaking to SPURSPLAY after the game, Moore reflected on his professional debut and stated that he is hopeful more opportunities are around the corner.
"It was good, the pace was so quick. It felt crazy coming on and it felt like I was playing FIFA. It felt mad," he admitted. "Coming on and trying to press, they move the ball so quick. I got a couple of touches of the ball and hopefully some more soon.
"As a young player coming through the academy, it's all you want really to make your debut. Coming on is probably the best feeling I've ever had to be fair."
He added: "I was asking the ref how long to go as soon as I came on as I wanted it to keep going. I just want to get on again really and hopefully many more to be fair."
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Training with the Tottenham first team at Hotspur Way recently, Moore has had the opportunity to learn from some top players as he bids to enhance his game. Working day in, day out with two players in particular has been a real bonus for the academy ace.
"It has been good. It is good to see the level of the players and it ups your level as you start to get sharper and better on the ball," he revealed. "It has been good to be learning off players like Sonny and Madders. It has been unbelievable really."
Asked about his conversations with Postecoglou, Moore went on to reveal the simple message that the Australian told him before his introduction.
"He's spoken to me at times but it's all the coaching staff," he said. "They all play their part in it and he just told me as I came on the pitch to just enjoy it really as that's what it's about. I tried to [do that]."
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Postecoglou was full of praise for the Tottenham youngster and he stated that the attacker fully merited his appearance following all the work he has put in.
"He's been training well with us, we wanted to get him some game time, it just hasn't panned out in the last few games, it was an opportunity to just get him out there," admitted the Australian. "He's still got a long way to go, he's only 16, he's a great kid.
"It's a reward, because we've had him training with us and he hasn't been playing with the U21s either, we thought it wouldn't be fair to not reward his hard work with an appearance."
Moore will be hoping more game time comes his way on Sunday when Tottenham finish the 2023/24 Premier League season away at Sheffield United.
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