Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte insists Dane Scarlett deserves his call-up to the first-team.
Conte put four academy players on the bench, including Scarlett, for Saturday's 4-0 win over Leeds United.
Asked if including academy players was a sign of how thin his squad is, Conte responded: "No, no, no. I don't give a gift to my players, even if you're 17 years old. I think Dane is working hard, he is a really good prospect from the academy.
"At this moment for sure the best prospect from the academy. But we have a couple of really good players training with us and improving. Dane has to continue to work very hard.
"We have to find the best solution in training because in the past he had many, many injuries. But he has great potential, he's only 17, he has to continue to improve, to grow, to understand and to think about football.
"It was a signal for him because he deserved this opportunity to play a few minutes. I don't give a gift to anybody. They have to deserve this opportunity."
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