Brazilian forward Richarlison starred for Tottenham U-21 with a brace in their EFL Trophy loss to Cheltenham Town FC this week.
The 29-year-old’s second-half goals were not enough as Spurs suffered a 7-6 loss in the penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw at the end of regular draw.
Richarlison played a part in the youth game for Spurs U21s to keep fit having been dropped by Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi since August.
The Brazil international fell out of favour in North London after trying to force a transfer move before the close of the summer transfer window.
Richarlison has played just one Premier League match for Spurs this season - against Brentford which was before the transfer saga.
Consequently, he has not been listed in the matchday squad since August 22 and he has not been training with the first-team squad.
His goals during the week might be a signal for a recall from De Zerbi as Tottenham continue to struggle with goals this season.
Spurs are the least scoring team in the Premier League this season, with just three goals scored so far in six games and they occupy 19th position in the table.
FERGUSON MAKES POINT FOR RICHARLISON RECALL
Meanwhile, former Everton manager Duncan Ferguson has made a case for the recall of Richarlison to Tottenham first-team.
Ferguson worked with Richarlison at Everton and he considers the Brazilian as a player who could improve Spurs’ current situation.
"I don’t know what the manager at Tottenham’s done,” Ferguson said on the Overlap Daily podcast. “I don’t know if they’ve had a massive fall-out, and knowing Richy (Richarlison) they probably have but you’ve got to put your arm around him and say, ‘Come on, Richy,’ and get him back in.
"You don’t leave a player like that out (of the squad) unless there’s been a real murder: he’s chinned him, or there’s been a proper scrap on the training ground.
“Richarlison’s a good player, and Tottenham are not that great, are they?
“It’s all hands-on deck. You need all your assets out there. The manager knows what he’s doing, he’s on the ground, but Richarlison’s a great player and I enjoyed working with him.
“I used to put the scores up on a board, like a chart of who’d scored the most goals in training and who’d won the most games, and I’d add it all up. Richarlison was a bugger for it.
“He used to come in and say, ‘Where’s my point?’ because I’d forgotten to put his point up. He was so competitive.”
Tottenham will be in Premier League action on Monday with the aim of registering their first win of the season when they welcome Coventry City to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
