Like Harry Kane and Harry Winks before him, Oliver Skipp proves another credit to Tottenham's academy

It was difficult out there in the driving rain against a Burnley side that came here only to frustrate but the 18-year-old looked remarkably comfortable

Mauricio Pochettino did not even try to hide his pride in 18-year-old midfielder Oliver Skipp after he made his first Premier League start at Wembley this afternoon. Skipp is the latest in a long line of Spurs academy graduates to break into the first team, the 13th since Pochettino took over as manager in the summer of 2014 and hopes have been high for some time about his potential as a player.

Those hopes looked justified at Wembley as Skipp slotted perfectly into midfield, sat alongside Moussa Sissoko at the base of Spurs’ 4-2-3-1, tasked with keeping the ball, starting moves, playing forward to their attacking players and attacking full-backs.

It was difficult out there in the driving rain against a Burnley side that came here only to frustrate and slow Spurs down. Skipp was facing a scrappy opposition midfield in Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork, while Ashley Barnes was not afraid to come back and challenge him either.

But in fact Skipp looked remarkably comfortable. His team-mates were always willing to trust him with the ball, which helped, even sometimes putting him in positions that looked difficult to wriggle out from.

But after one early mistake when he gave the ball away, he was otherwise impeccable. Nothing flash, nothing dangerous, simply following his manager’s instructions and helping to keep Spurs moving. It might have been tempting to try something difficult and impressive, to show off to the crowd, to catch Burnley off guard but instead Skipp’s patience was telling.

That is why Pochettino spoke so warmly about Skipp afterwards, and even joked that Skipp looked so calm beforehand, and on the pitch, that he might go on to a better footballer than the manager himself back in his day.

“Fantastic, fantastic,” said Pochettino. “He played like a 30-year-old man. So relaxed, he tried to play forward, he tried to give the team what the team needed. Full energy. I am so proud of him, everyone here is proud of him. And he’s only 18 Years old, fantastic.”

Skipp has been involved before this year off the bench but after doing well in his first start, Pochettino thinks it will be easier for him now. “Now it will be easier for him. Always on debut you are nervous. I remember my first game, and I said to him, ‘you look so relaxed, when I was 17 I was so nervous.’ And that is the difference between a player who is going to a be top player, and normal player like me!” If Skipp does go on to be as consistent at the top level as Pochettino was then he will certainly have quite the career.”

Pochettino suggested Skipp might even become a better player than he was (EPA)

Given the successes of Harry Kane, Harry Winks and plenty more before him, Skipp is also a credit to the Spurs academy.

“In the last few months, on the USA tour in pre-season, he showed he can cope with pressure for the first time. It was just about time. I want to congratulate the academy staff, John McDermott, all the people who work in education there, the people who helped him to build his career. The work they do is amazing, and we need to profit from this work, to provide the team with energy and quality. He’s a very good, a very good person, and this is a fantastic thing for Tottenham.”