Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham teenage striker Mikey Moore is not in danger of being drawn into comparisons with Brazil’s Neymar after he dazzled against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

Making just his second start for the first team on Thursday, the 17-year-old shone in the club’s 1-0 home win.

“From minute 45 to 65 I thought we had Neymar on the left wing! He was brilliant,” Tottenham midfielder James Maddison told TNT Sports.

Postecoglou, whose side travel to struggling Crystal Palace on Sunday, was asked about his reaction to Maddison’s comment at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“We all understand with young players we have to be very careful but as I said after the game I don’t see it affecting Mikey at all and there’s no denying he was fantastic last night… it’s exciting for Mikey. us” he said.

The Spurs boss said he would consider handing Moore his full Premier League debut at Palace, with captain Son Heung-min “unlikely” to play due to injury.

“He (Moore) is ready to start any game but I just feel and especially with young players you have to be really careful with their introduction into senior football,” Postecoglou said.

“Even last year he didn’t really have a full season of football, he had a lot of injuries.”

It could be a straight shootout between Moore and Timo Werner for the left wing despite a difficult period in front of goal for the German national team player.

After Werner was substituted at half-time against AZ, Moore moved from the right wing to his preferred position on the left and went on several crazy runs.

However, Postecoglou expects the Spurs academy graduate to keep his feet on the ground.

“I think Mikey just wants to be Mikey and as I said after the game, what I see with him is he’s very mature for a 17-year-old, he handles things really well,” said Postecoglou.

“It’s exciting because it filters through the whole club and everyone in the academy will be hugely proud of that. The whole club feels good to see someone come through the programme.

“As a manager, you are happy that at 17 you have a player who is showing maturity and a mindset where he is giving himself every chance to be the best player he can be.

“Sometimes young players are exciting but you can see pitfalls along the way, but I don’t see that with him. At 17 you think about what he’s going to be like at 21 and hopefully I’m a manager by then.”

Tottenham are seventh in the Premier League table after three wins in their last four games while Palace, without a win this season, are in the relegation zone.

jw/jdg/lp