Tottenham Hotspur striker Will Lancashire has been named Premier League 2 Player of the Season after a prolific campaign that has seen him finish as the competition’s top scorer – and potentially win the title.
The 19-year-old has scored 21 Premier League 2 (PL2) goals, leaving him three clear of West Ham United’s Callum Marshall, who is yet to find a match. He is the first Spurs player to win the award.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win player of the season!” said Lankshear official website of the club.
🎙️ “I am completely satisfied. It’s been a really good season and I’ve enjoyed playing with my teammates and I’ve enjoyed playing under the staff – it’s been a really positive year for me and the team.”@WillLankshear he reflects on his own #PL2 Player of the Season Award 🙌 pic.twitter.com/KBHEPzr5BW
— Tottenham Hotspur Academy (@Spurs_Academy) May 22, 2024
“It’s been a really good season and I’ve enjoyed playing with my team-mates and I’ve enjoyed playing under the staff – it’s been a really positive year for me and the team.
“At the start of the season, coming back from an injury I had from last season, I just wanted to have a full season and I didn’t expect all that to happen, but I’ve been working really hard. I listened to what the coaches told me and tried to do what they said and apparently it worked!
“I’m really proud of the goals I’ve scored but it’s all down to the team really – it’s been amazing and I’m just doing my job, which is to put the ball in the back of the net. “
Lankshear spearheaded this season’s title challenge, with Spurs finishing top of the PL2 table and winning all three play-off games to reach Sunday’s final.
In the last 16, Lankshear scored twice, including an extra-time winner, as Spurs beat Aston Villa 4-3. He then scored a goal in the quarter-finals as the north Londoners drew 3-3 with Liverpool and won 5-4 on penalties.
Last Sunday, in the semi-finals, Lancashire scored the first goal in a 2-1 win over Chelsea, sending Spurs through to this weekend’s final against Sunderland at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Lankshear was selected as the PL2 Player of the Season by the Premier League Football Development Team, making the first shortlist of eight players.
PL2 Player of the Season winners
2023/24: Will Lancaster (Spurs)
2022/23: Carlos Borges (Manchester City)
2021/22: James McAtee (Manchester City)
2020/21: Liam Delap (Man City)
2019/20: Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
2018/19: Aaron Connolly (Brighton)
2017/18: Rhys Nelson (Arsenal)
2016/17: Oliver McBurnie (Swansea)