Loan Watch: Tottenham Starlet Mikey Moore Shines at Rangers as Spurs Weigh Summer Decision

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Loan Watch returns this week, and it’s another Tottenham youngster who is the centre of attention following the first edition focus on centre-back Luka Vuskovic. Mikey Moore moved to Scottish Premiership side Rangers last summer.

Moore needed game time in order to realise his immense potential. While considered one of the brightest attacking talents to come through the Spurs ranks, playing time was hard to come by in north London last season. Indeed, the teenager registered just 362 minutes of Premier League action across 10 appearances, seven of which were off the bench.

Admittedly, a virus sidelined Moore for the winter period, and that further limited his chances of garnering regular action. Even so, the 18-year-old needed to leave in order to increase the possibility of realising his immense potential.

Moore's early Rangers struggles

Initially, though, the decision to send Moore on loan to Rangers looked like a backwards one. The Gers were, for want of a better word, shocking under Russell Martin. Rangers dominated games yet failed to put teams away. It was hardly a surprise that Martin was relieved of his duties in early October, an 123-day tenure that was officially the shortest in Rangers history.

A change in the Ibrox dugout brought about a change in fortunes for both Rangers and Moore. The Glasgow giants recovered well once Danny Rohl took over, and now find themselves just four points off league leaders Hearts heading into the final furlong. This weekend's Old Firm could prove decisive.

“A lot has been made of his character to bounce back from the Russel Martin period, but I think we’ve since seen that Moore is resilient by nature,” Rangers fan Isaac told LiveScore.

“His goal against Celtic in an otherwise poor performance in a hostile environment is a prime example of this.” Said goal came in a 3-1 win at their rivals back in January, a victory that prompted the Bhoys to sack Wilfried Nancy after just 33 days.

Late Livi strike may prove key

That goal was one of five Moore has scored this season, the most recent of which came in Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Livingston as Rohl’s side came from two goals to claim what may prove to be a vital point in the title race. “Even at the weekend against Livingston, a game which was mainly filled with “nearly” moments ends with him scoring a late equaliser,” Isaac continued. “It’s a trait that’s extremely rare in footballers of his age, and even more rare when combined with his creativity and technical ability.”

This shouldn’t come as a surprise as Moore continues to grow into a more prominent role in the Rangers setup. Despite his age, Moore is one that teammates look to in order to make the difference in attack. “Even in games where the end product is not there and things are not going his way, he never stops trying to get involved and make an impact,” Isaac said.

As one might expect, Moore ranks among the top three players for goals (5), shots (2.9), key passes (1.6) and successful dribbles per 90 (2) for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season. That’s not to say there aren’t shortcomings to Moore’s game, though, if anything, these are more physical. “The only negative is that I think his athletic limitations really limit him to playing centrally, at least at the top level,” Isaac said.

For a player who doesn’t turn 19 until August, this is hardly a shock. Moore’s body is still developing. In time, he’ll prove a better fit in the middle, even if his long-term future is out wide.

So, he’s done well at Rangers? “Overall I think he’s done excellent,” Isaac concluded. “Rangers utilising our yearly premium loan on an 18-year-old was a big risk, knowing the ups and downs that can come with young players. I’d absolutely love to have him back for another year.”

Ready for Spurs?

Whether Spurs sanction such a move remains to be seen. Admittedly, Moore perhaps doesn’t fit the system at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under Igor Tudor. The Croat favours a 3-4-2-1 setup, and given the Englishman’s struggles in a central role; he may not be suited to operating in one of the two attacking spots behind the striker.

However, with the expectation that Mauricio Pochettino will return to Tottenham this summer, and the Argentine’s preference for a 4-2-3-1 system, there may be a place for Moore in north London next season.

Additionally, Spurs lack wide options, more so following Brennan Johnson's January exit. Mohammed Kudus is currently sidelined until after the March international break with a quad problem, while Wilson Odobert is a long-term concern having suffered an ACL injury in their 2-1 loss to Newcastle earlier this month. Spurs are unable to recall Moore, much to the relief of Rangers fans, but allowing him to leave for pastures new next season may come back to haunt a club presently struggling to contain an injury crisis.

Either way, the signs are positive for Moore and Spurs. After a rocky start to life north of the border, he’s become a key player in their push for domestic glory. Thriving in a tumultuous pressure cooker, Moore is showcasing the mental toughness that’ll help to make a name for himself in N17.

Moore may not be quite ready for a regular spot in this Spurs XI but with options few and far between, what have the north London side got to lose? His success is the feel-good story this downtrodden capital outfit needs right now.

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