Tottenham ace Harry Winks is destined to be England captain and is shaping into Spurs’ Andres Iniesta
Young midfielder was North London club's shining light during 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu
WE'VE only gone and done it again.
Yet another heroic performance from Mauricio Pochettino's side in Europe.
Not only did it show Spurs' ability to rub shoulders with the elite, but give them a run for their money also.
It was a night that many of the Tottenham players deserved. Captain Hugo Lloris - who pulled off the save of the season in the Bernabeu - at the top of that list.
The French goalkeeper has endured some tough times at the North London club, namely dipping into the depths of despair under Tim Sherwood.
To now be part of a side that earned a point against the best in the world is the least he could ask for for his service to the club. Jan Vertonghen in a very similar boat.
There were no bad performances from the Lilywhites in the Spanish capital.
Moussa Sissoko - who hasn't been without his critics during his time at the club - was superb, often rocketing down the right hand side and keeping the hosts at bay.
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Davinson Sanchez will have emptied his pockets last night and found Cristiano Ronaldo among his loose change, while Fernando Llorente's dominance up top earning his Spurs.
But there was one shining light for the visitors, 21-year-old Harry Winks.
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There were a few eyebrows raised when the team-sheet was released yesterday afternoon. Without Mousa Dembele or Victor Wanyama available, Pochettino's faith in the youngster was mandatory, but thoroughly justified.
For the opening 30 minutes, there was no denying that Luka Modric owned the game.
Christian Eriksen could not cope with the Croatian, while almost everything dangerous about Zinedine Zidane's side came through the little wizard.
However the rest of the game belonged to the Hemel Hempstead Xavi.
Winks' confidence to retain the ball and to run at Madrid made every single fan in the stadium watch and learn. One can only imagine the pride bursting out of the Winks household on the night.
For Spurs fans that have watched him grow over the last two seasons, this superb display was to be expected.
Having earned his first England call up this month, there is no doubt in my mind that this is the player destined to own that armband one day. There is simply no other English midfielder quite like him.
Just last week, Barcelona announced that club legend Andres Iniesta had signed a 'contract for life' with the team.
Most European football fans will agree that Iniesta has very much been the benchmark for a midfielder over the last decade.
The things he can do with a football, most would only dream of.
Comparing them right now is utterly ridiculous, but fans of the club would hope that Winks' path to the top would very much mirror the journey taken by the Spanish legend.
Much like Harry Kane, fans of the North London side very much hope the starlet will stay with Pochettino's team for a very long time.
It may not have been their best ever night in Europe, but it was truly close.
For a side that got battered 4-0 in the same stadium six years ago, fans will remember this for a very long time.
Regardless who we face in the future, we now know Harry Winks and Co can match them.
Up the Spurs.
Twitter @TalkingTHFC
