Tottenham place striker on tailored conditioning programme ahead of January arrival
Mason Melia is continuing to turn heads ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur in January, and the youngster showed in the European stage on Thursday just what many in Ireland are very excited about his potential.
Spurs signed Mason Melia from St Patrick’s Athletic for £1.6m plus add-ons back in February, which is a record transfer fee for a player signed from the League of Ireland.
The 17-year-old centre-forward has already played 80 senior matches with 23 goal involvements, and according to reports, Tottenham had to fend off interest from around 60 clubs across Europe to secure Melia’s services.
The UK’s exit from the European Union means that the youngster cannot arrive at Tottenham until he turns 18 in September, with the forward thus set to make the switch to Hotspur Way in January.
Tottenham’s Mason Melia scores and assists in European clash
Melia was the star of the show for St Pat’s as they overcame Lithuanian side Hegelmann 3-0 in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.
The youngster opened the scoring just five minutes into the tie and then produced an extremely impressive assist 11 minutes into the second half.
Melia picked the ball up in his own half, turned an opponent and drove through the centre of the pitch before playing a pass to Kian Leavy, who smashed the ball home.
The moment of class showed why many in his country expect the teenager to develop into the next big name star in Irish football.
Melia is over the moon to score his first European goal
Speaking after the win, the St Pat’s starlet admitted that he was delighted to get off the mark in Europe and to do so early into the encounter.
Melia said (via Football.London): “I’m buzzing with it. Obviously, it’s a proper striker’s goal, just follow in. Kian did brilliantly, Jay had a great shot, and I was just following in, really. A striker’s instinct. I’m buzzing obviously to get the first goal.
“I think it was huge [to get an early goal] Obviously, we got the fans going early, and it got us going early. It was a good start, and that’s what you wanted in any game of football. I’m buzzing.”
According to Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur have put Melia in a tailored conditioning programme to prepare him for the pace, physicality and intensity of the Premier League.
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