Former Tottenham Midfielder Convinces AVB to Trial Scandinavian Youth Pair

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Allan Nielsen is helping the north Londoners identify the next generation of Danish youngsters and says teenage pair Soren Andreasen and Kasper Nissen have both won trials at Spurs.

Christian Eriksen made the move to White Hart Lane from Ajax in the summer and Tottenham have taken the first step towards discovering the next Danish superstars by taking the forward pair on a short-term deal.

The two Denmark Under-17 internationals, who are playing for Esbjerg fB, are both hoping to impress manager Andre Villas-Boas sufficiently in order to earn a new deal and Nielsen says they have great potential.

"They are young talents who have done very well so far," Nielsen said.

"The trials came into being through my contacts with Spurs and it will be an exciting experience for them.

"Of course there is always a jump when you have to take the step from being a prospect, but for the future, they have great potential.

Nielsen made over 100 appearances for Tottenham across four years at White Hart Lane and most memorably scored the winning goal in the 1999 League Cup final against Leicester City at Wembley.

Tottenham have among the most impressive youth systems in the country and have recently brought through England internationals Andros Townsend and Steven Caulker while much is expected of Tom Carroll, who is on loan at Queens Park Rangers.

The club finished as runners up in the inaugural Under-21 Premier League last season after defeat in the final to Manchester United, while the club also reached the last eight of the NextGen Series, the Under-19 European competition.

Villas-Boas opted to spend big in the transfer market in the summer, signing seven new players as a reaction to the departure of Gareth Bale, but the Portuguese boss has regularly committed to making the most of Tottenham's burgeoning youth system.

Former captain Ledley King said: "Tottenham have always had players coming through it's just about being given the opportunity. Obviously we've seen Steven Caulker come through, Andros [Townsend], Tom Carroll and there are other kids.

"If they get the opportunity they can show how good players they are. It's not a surprise to me that the club are managing to produce players good enough for the first team even though the money that is being spent.

"There is a great youth structure at the club, the youth team has been doing very well under great guidance."