Roshaun Mathurin: Things to know about talented Tottenham teenager

Tottenham have a proud history of bringing through young talent, with future England internationals Harry Kane, Sol Campbell and Nick Barmby three of a number of players to have progressed through the Spurs youth system and gone on to enjoy successful careers.

The club could have another hot prospect on their hands, with 17-year-old Roshaun Mathurin turning heads with a series of eye catching performances in the Under-18s side.

So just who is Roshaun Mathurin? Here's everything you need to know about the talented teenager.

1. He's got an eye for goal

Tottenham fans were left raving about Mathurin after he hit a hat-trick in a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Chelsea's Under 18s in March.

The first year scholar's three goals each demonstrated a different facet to his game - with his first and third the real picks of the bunch.

Mathurin bent a fabulous free kick from the edge of the box into the top left hand corner of the Chelsea goal to open his account for the afternoon, and doubled his tally by leathering home from close range with his right foot.

He completed his hat-trick with a piece of skill reminiscent of that of Paul Gascoigne against Scotland at Euro 96, nonchalantly flicking the ball past the Chelsea defender before sending a left footed volley into the corner of the net. Sumptuous.

2. He's a tricky winger

Mathurin is a left sided attacking midfielder or winger, but has also been deployed on the right side of midfield or as a right winger for Spurs Under-18s. His hat-trick against Chelsea came from playing in a right midfield role.

You obviously can't read too much into social media clips, but the few pieces of available footage of the teenager show him to have a sublime first touch and close control, in addition to real balance, creativity and imagination.

His ability on the ball is regarded as his biggest asset, with Spurs Under-18s coach Matt Taylor singling this out following his hat-trick against Chelsea.

"It was good for Roshaun and what we saw today is the quality that he offers when we’re in possession of the ball and the ability that he has," Taylor told Tottenham's official club website. "The next stage of development now for him and all of the players is to broaden their understanding of the game out of possession."

3. He's been playing above his age group

Mathurin only turned 17 in January, but has been turning out for Tottenham's Under-18 side since November 2019 - when he was just 15-years-old.

Having scored 14 goals in 27 games for Tottenham's Under-16s, the attacking midfielder was bumped up to the Under-18 side and made three appearances in the Under-18 Premier League during the 2019/20 season prior to the campaign's curtailment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He has since become a regular in the squad during the 2020/21 season.
Having initially been restricted to substitute appearances at the start of the campaign, Mathurin pitched in with a goal and an assist in a 22 minute cameo against Crystal Palace in December, and was rewarded with a start in each of Spurs Under 18s' subsequent seven league matches.

4. He's ex-Chelsea

Mathurin is a local lad, brought up in Leytonstone in east London - just six miles away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Prior to joining Spurs, the winger was in the Chelsea academy until the age of 12 - making his hat-trick against the Blues that little bit sweeter.

5. He went to the same school as Ronnie O'Sullivan

Mathurin attended Wanstead High School in Leytonstone, and won the County Cup with his school side.

Wanstead already boasts a pretty illustrious list of alumni, including former Charlton striker Jonathan Fortune, young Southampton defender Kayne Ramsay, 1994 Eurovision Song Contest contestant Frances Ruffelle and six-time World Snooker champion (and Arsenal fan) Ronnie O'Sullivan.

6. He's passed all of his GCSEs

Despite Gavin Williamson making a mess of the 2019/20 cohort's exams. Not many can boast that and a hat-trick against Chelsea.