'ASH HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE IN THE GAME'

MARK Robins has saluted loan teenager Ashley Phillips as he returns to Spurs - particularly after playing through his last month at Stoke City with injury.

- Peter Smith

Phillips and fellow centre-half Ben Wilmot have been playing through pain over the final few weeks of the season to try to help Stoke stay in the Championship, as did captain Ben Gibson as he returned for the final game of term at Derby on Saturday.

Robins, as ever, has been coy on injury details but Wilmot can now have his problem treated properly and Gibson can look forward to a pre-season programme while Phillips is going back to parent club Tottenham Hotspur to see what happens next in his career.

The 19-year-old, who is under contract until 2028, has clearly enjoyed his time at Stoke and a first season of playing regular men's football. It remains to be seen what Spurs' plans are for next year and there will be no shortage of suitors if they sanction another loan.