Tottenham face Cypriot side Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday night in the Champions League and midfielder Harry Winks must be used from the start by Mauricio Pochettino.
The 21-year-old is in line to play for Spurs as they resume their European competition away to Apoel in the group stages.
The North London club are already without central midfielder pair Victor Wanyama (knee) and Mousa Dembele (ankle) for the Champions League clash, which leaves the manager short of genuine options.
Moussa Sissoko and Eric Dier have heavily featured at the beginning of the campaign in the middle of the park, but Pochettino has a quality option too waiting in reserve.
Spurs’ academy graduate Harry Winks is a rising star in North London and has become a full first-team member in the last 12 months.
The English central midfielder is a brilliant technical player that is comfortable in possession and has made a seamless step up to senior level.
He full deserves a chance to lay down a marker against Apoel and his pin-point passing could be the difference in unlocking what is set to be a stubborn defence.
Winks has made five appearances so far this season, but four of them have come as a substitute in the Premier League.
It is time for Pochettino to fully blood the youngster in an important Champions League clash as he has all the potential there to break into the starting XI on a permanent basis.
There is a window of opportunity for Winks to land himself a regular spot and a big display in Europe woulg go a long way to doing just that.
He has plenty of experience with England’s youth teams and has 41 senior caps for Spurs, meaning now could be the perfect time to watch him develop into a leading player for them.