\n<\/p>\n
Before 15 December last year, Spence had played just 64 minutes of Premier League football in the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n
After that date, he completed 90 minutes in 19 of Spurs’ subsequent 22 league games.<\/p>\n
The transformation was stark. Spence was so far down then Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order he was not even included in the squad for the Europa League group stage.<\/p>\n
He only came in for the knockout stage but played 180 minutes of the last-16 win against AZ Alkmaar.<\/p>\n
He was then introduced as a substitute as Spurs beat Manchester United in the final for their first major trophy in 17 years, qualifying for the Champions League in the process.<\/p>\n
Such was his progress last season, there was talk of Spence featuring in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad last March.<\/p>\n
Spence missed out, with Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly called up as the new left-back face instead, despite the Spurs man making more Premier League tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks and defensive headers at that point in the campaign.<\/p>\n
But Spence stayed in the picture, and after playing every minute for Spurs in the new Premier League season to date he has got his call-up to the senior squad.<\/p>\n
“It’s definitely a big deal to play for England, 100%,” Spence said.<\/p>\n
“The manager has made me feel comfortable, everyone here has made me comfortable. Also I’ve played at under-21s, so I know a bit more. But senior level, I haven’t done it before. The boys have made me feel welcome and taken me in.”<\/p>\n
He was given his England Under-21 debut by Lee Carsley in March 2022 against Albania.<\/p>\n
Carsley wanted to take Spence to the European Under-21 Championship in 2023, where England triumphed by beating Spain in the final, but injury ruled the defender out of the tournament.<\/p>\n
To Carsley, Spence’s rise to prominence is no surprise.<\/p>\n
“I love Djed. I think he’s such a good player,” Carsley told BBC Sport earlier this year. “So exciting, so attacking, athletic, a quiet guy but humble.<\/p>\n
“He’s got so many attributes, the way he can drive and dribble with the ball, score, create, defend. He’s a player that there’s no ceiling where he could go.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n