Winksy will always remember the 19th of November

Harry Winks’ first goal for England against Kosovo on Sunday has us all thinking back to his first goal for Spurs. It’s quite apt, considering it was against West Ham, who we lock horns with again on Saturday, and on this day – 19 November – three years ago!

Few will forget his celebration and what that first goal meant to ‘Winksy’, a Spurs fan and Academy graduate who made his debut in the Europa League two years earlier and has gone on to make 115 appearances for us so far, start the Champions League Final, play (and now score) for England - all by the age of 24.

“That was such a special night for me, my first start for the Club in the Premier League and scoring the equaliser against West Ham,” said Harry, back at Hotspur Way on Tuesday after Sunday’s fine performance for the Three Lions. “I still remember the feeling after scoring. It was incredible. It’s something I’m very proud of.”

We went on to win 3-2 with Harry Kane, also on target in Kosovo, scoring two late goals in a thriller at the Lane.

Those feelings were evoked again in Pristina earlier this week.

Breaking from deep, Winksy strolled through the home defence to open the scoring in England’s 4-0 win. He was named Man of the Match for his performance on his sixth cap and pundits have started pencilling him in for their starting midfield, let alone a place in the squad, for the finals next summer.

“It was a special moment for me to score for my country,” he reflected. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing but never quite imagined that it would come true! Again, it’s something I will never forget.”

Typically, Winksy is looking closer to home before thinking longer-term. Any thoughts of Euro 2020 have been put on the back burner as he returns to more pressing matters and two huge games in the space of four days - West Ham at the London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (12.30pm) followed by Olympiacos at home in the Champions League on Tuesday week (26 November, 8pm) , knowing a win takes us through to the knockout stage of the competition.

“It was a huge boost for me to start against Kosovo and get Man of the Match, but it’s important now that my form for the Club doesn’t drop because that is ultimately what will get me international recognition in the first place,” he said.

“Of course, it would be another dream to play at a major competition with my country, but there is a long way to go and a lot can happen between now and the finals. It’s important not to focus too far ahead and concentrate on my club form here at Spurs.”

West Ham kicks-off a spell of 12 games in 43 days in three competitions, taking in Premier League, Champions League and up to FA Cup third round weekend (3/4 January, 2020).

For the time being though, all eyes are on the short trip to Stratford. “Every game is important, but we know this is special for the fans, a big London derby and a game both teams really need to win,” added Winksy. “Everything is set up for a huge game.”