Midfield talk with Winks and Mason - part one

They both came through our Academy. They’re both all-action central midfielders. Coincidentally, as of this weekend, they’ve both played the exact same number of games for our first team – 70.

Before Harry Winks took it on this season, former player Ryan Mason was our last player to carry the “big responsibility” of wearing the number eight shirt for the Club, prior to his departure for Hull City in 2016.

With 22-year-old ‘Winksy’ now back in the frame following his injury problems and striving to improve with every passing game and Ryan spending time at the Training Centre as he takes his first steps on the coaching pathway back in the Academy set-up he knows so well following his retirement as a player, the two sat down for an in-depth chat about making the transition from youth football to first team level, the roles of a modern-day central midfielder and what it means to be playing at the top level for Spurs.

Here’s the first part of their discussion – look out for part two on Sunday...

Ryan Mason: “First of all, well done on getting the number eight shirt. I’m happy to see it stay in the Academy system. Obviously I got it a couple of years ago, then I left, then it’s sort of been sitting there unused for a bit but I’m happy you took it. It’s the best number for a central midfielder, isn’t it? How do you feel about getting it?”

Harry Winks: “As a young Academy player and especially being a Spurs fan, growing up, you want to be the number eight. Every player does, including yourself. Obviously, it does come with big responsibility being number eight for Tottenham but, as I say, it was always a dream as a Spurs fan growing up, to wear the number eight shirt.”

Ryan: “Yes. I was at the Club when you were coming through the system and I’m sure you wore that number eight as a young lad as well. For you to get it in the first team with your name on the back, it’s a massive deal. As a fan now, I’m looking at it with you as the number eight and Harry Kane as the number 10. Both of you have come through the system, through the Academy, so it’s a massive thing. I think for the fans as well, it must make them proud and, as you say, about the responsibility…”

Harry: “Well you know more than anyone about that shirt and how important it is. Obviously you did fantastically well when wearing it in your time at Spurs so it’s big shoes to fill, of course, but I’m looking forward to it and just looking forward to hopefully doing it justice.”

Ryan: “Yes, and hopefully you can keep it for a bit longer than I did because I only had it for a season before I left. For me personally, I’m looking forward to seeing you kick on this season and hopefully get some goals in it as well, because that number eight is an all-round midfielder, isn’t it? It’s a player that can play, that can defend, attack. I mean from your point of view as well, I think you’re probably keen to get some goals because I know you’ve got goals in your game and that’s perhaps one thing you might be looking to add, isn’t it?”

Harry: “That is exactly what I need to do. I think in terms of my whole career at Spurs, since I was a young boy, I’ve never really been prolific at scoring. I’ve maybe had a season in young Academy teams where I’ve gone a season scoring goals, then a season not scoring goals. I think my last goal was maybe two seasons ago on my full Premier League debut so it’s been a while. It’s something I need to learn and add to my game and I’m sure I can improve and do that by watching other players in the Premier League in my position, but also by working on different things myself.”

Ryan: “I think it’s interesting these days because the central midfielders tend to be the ones sitting and connecting the play and it’s the full-backs that are the ones that tend to get on up the pitch, whereas I think in the past, you would usually think of the number eight in a 4-4-2, the number eight in central midfield getting in both boxes. Depending on the formation, it can be a bit different but I think you’ve certainly got the legs and the ability to get in those areas and score goals.”

Harry: “I think that’s the aim. Of course, I need to get goals and make it into the box but it’s about getting fit, getting strong and powerful. The last 10 or 15 minutes is probably the time where we as midfielders can make that last breakthrough into the opposing box. That’s hopefully where I can start getting my goals, in the last 10 to 15 minutes of games.”

Ryan: “We mentioned about us coming through the Academy. How did you find the transition from the youth team to the development team, then to the first team here? The gaffer is pretty intense, the training load is 100 per cent and, as everyone knows, you can’t play for him unless you’re 100 per cent fit and on it every day...”

Harry: “The first couple of years of me stepping into the first team were difficult. You know that more than anything as I was playing with you and you know what I was like. The intensity of the training was hard, it was intense. It takes a while to really get into that sort of mould, into a first team player from a youth team player. I suppose it challenges you as well with the way the manager likes to play and the way we like to play as a team. We press with intense play and, playing from the back, you have to have full fitness and be at your best every single time.”

Coming up in part two on Sunday – Ryan and Harry discuss the responsibilities around helping the next generation of talent from our Academy and what it means to play for England.