Lankshear: "I'm determined to push on now"

Will Lankshear is hungry to keep improving and make his mark after putting pen to paper on a new five-year deal.

The 19-year-old was in prolific form in a memorable 2023/24 season for our Under-21s, finishing as the Premier League 2 top scorer with 23 goals across a campaign that ended with a fitting brace in the play-off final to help us lift the league title in May.

With his crucial double in the 3-1 win over Sunderland at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium taking his overall tally to 32 in all competitions last term, the striker is now eager to continue his goalscoring form and kick on to the next level.

"It's a really proud moment for me and my family and everyone involved," Will said after committing his future to the Club. "I just have to thank them and everyone who has worked with me.

"I’m really determined to work so hard and try push on now and try to make a name for myself. I want to try to get into the first team and score as many goals as possible which is the best I can do as a striker."

Watch - Lankshear speaks to SPURSPLAY after signing a new deal

Claiming the PL2 Player of the Month award for January – having been shortlisted for the award on three occasions – Will was then named PL2 Player of the Season having led the line so well.

After overcoming a long injury lay-off in a challenging first season following his move from Sheffield United in 2022, the personal accolade was just reward not only for his goalscoring exploits but the hard work put in to come back stronger to feature in nearly all Development Squad matches last term.

What was the secret to success? Hard work, the guidance and support from Under-21s coach Wayne Burnett and the staff as well as a tight-knit feeling amongst the playing group revealed the centre-forward.

"I have to thank all the staff that worked with me,” he said. "I was out for a long period and went through rehab well with the physios which put me in good stead for last year and then it was a great season.

"It came down to working hard with the staff and listening to what Wayne tells me and forming a good relationship with all the boys and enjoying football which is the main thing.

"Last season was so fun and I think that really showed on the pitch. We all worked really well together and worked for each other, it couldn't have gone better really. We all worked so hard and winning the PL2 just topped it all off and we deserved it."

Watch - Lankshear on scoring a brace in N17 to help clinch PL2 title

Among his achievements on the goal front, Will broke the record for the fastest-ever hat-trick at the Stadium – an 11-minute treble against Fleetwood Town in the Premier League Cup in February – and so, when naming his footballing idol growing up, it seems right that the young striker named a player who knows all about breaking goalscoring records at the Club.

"One for me was always Harry Kane, I loved him," said the England youth international. "It might be a bit of a cliché as he played here and did so well for the Club but I really looked up to him.

"I think it's his all-round play. As a striker I try to go in behind a little bit more as well, but I'm fascinated by his link-up play, the way he gets hold of it and moves it, and then how he gets in the box and scores goals."