Huddlestone pens new five-year deal

By: Gary | June 30th, 2008

With the uncertainty still looming over the future of many of the Spurs players, boss Juande Ramos has today ensured Tom Huddlestone will not be one of the names quitting White Hart Lane this summer – by handing the 21-year-old a lucrative five-year contract.

It is difficult to know at this stage exactly which members of the Tottenham squad, Ramos is keen to retain. But Tom has made the cut to Juande’s Revolution.

‘Big Tom’ was one of many left in the dark by the Spaniard after failing to secure a regular first-team slot for much of Ramos’ first season in charge.

The former Seville coach arrived at N17 back in October, but it wasn’t until December we saw ‘The Hudd’ make back-to-back starts in a Spurs jersey. This came amidst reports he had been told to lose weight by the new boss, before being granted a consistent place in the Spurs side.

Huddlestone did his best to impress when given the chance though, scoring two crackers in our Boxing Day crushing of Fulham and providing a calming influence as we put our league form back on track into the New Year.

A string of fine displays failed to make him a permanent fixture in the starting eleven with Didier Zokora and emerging Jamie O’Hara often preferred in the midfield engine room. The young gun was limited to just substitute showings in our two biggest games of the season against Arsenal and Chelsea in the Carling Cup. After missing out on a starting berth for our trip to Wembley, it seemed apparent Huddlestone was destined for life as a back-up player.

This fuelled the fire that he may be partying company from north London this summer. But his set-backs did not deter him.

The youngster continued to deliver when called upon most notably finding the scoresheet with another beauty in our thrilling 4-4 league draw versus Chelsea.

And by now even if Ramos was not won over by Huddlestone’s performances, England boss Fabio Cappello definitely liked what he saw, calling Hudd up for the national teams friendly matches against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

The arrival of Croatian playmaker Luka Modric looked to be another nail in Tom’s Spurs coffin, but with Everton circling with plans for an £8 million swoop, Ramos decided to open the door.

It has been a campaign of doubt for the midfield man. But it is safe to say, ‘The Hudd’ is here to stay.

You often hear mixed reviews surrounding him on the terraces. His range of passing is exemplary while his long range shooting is quite simply breath-taking.

Some may question his tenacity on the field. For such a big player, he has often failed to boss the midfield battle. Although his fight to earn a new contract proves he is no shirker.

We must not forget he is still very young, and what he lacks in steel, he makes up for with crisp technique.

We are at the end of a very difficult road for Huddlestone but his ability to bounce back each time he has taken a knock makes him deserving of his new deal.

He still needs to blossom into the top player he has threatened to become over the last two years.

But his five-year contract should give him the confidence to build on his young career.

Ramos has assured him of time to develop now. He has been rewarded with the kind of chance many around him would so sorely crave.

He has been shown the utmost faith and loyalty, when it may have been easier for the club to cut their losses for a tidy profit.

Now he must repay us in his performances.

It is time to deliver…