Djed Spence has emphatically declared that he never once believed his Tottenham career was finished, even after an agonising 881-day wait for a start.
The dynamic Spurs defender played a key role in the team's advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals following a high-octane seven-goal showdown with Manchester United on Thursday night.
Following his contributions in the 5-0 rout of Southampton, Spence expressed unwavering confidence about his prospects at the club, stating: "No, it's never over until I leave. There's always a chance to play."
Despite a challenging loan spell at Genoa and Leeds United's abrupt termination of his stint at Elland Road, where manager Daniel Farke questioned his commitment, Spence has bounced back, showcasing his resilience and silencing his critics.
On how he managed to impress manager Ange Postecoglou, Spence reflected: "I'm not sure really, I've just grown as a person I guess."
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He credited his loan experiences with fostering personal growth and instilling the right mindset, concluding: "During loan spells you learn a lot so when I came back I just got straight to it really, with the right mentality. I'm pleased to be here."
Spence, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Middlesbrough in a deal that could reach £20million with add-ons, has found playing time hard to come by since his 2022 move.
Before his impactful performance at St Mary's, the ex-Nottingham Forest player had only 64 minutes of Premier League play under his belt, aside from a 45-minute appearance in Spurs' 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Coventry City in September.
Despite being left out of Tottenham's Europa League squad, Spence is eager to show his worth after notching another assist against Manchester United. The young star, who also had a spell at Stade Rennes, expressed his determination: "I just want to keep going.
"I'm happy with the assist and hopefully I keep helping the team out, keep going, playing well and hopefully we can also keep winning. Sometimes it's difficult but you've got to stay ready.
"Thank you to my team-mates and the coaching staff for helping me stay ready for when I get my chance to then do what I do. I got an assist and last game I got an assist, so I'm pleased with myself. We train hard so I'm always prepared and you've got to be ready at all costs."
His next challenge, assuming he stays ahead of Destiny Udogie, who is battling to be fit for the Liverpool clash, will be trying to contain the formidable Mohamed Salah.
However, bolstered by the unwavering support of the fans, he is prepared to step up to the challenge. He concluded: "The crowd are fantastic.
"They've believed in me and I'm happy to put it good performances and show them what I can do. It's a big game. Hopefully we can go and win it and keep the winning streak going."
