Tottenham free agent makes Arsenal comment as he tears up Championship with QPR

Tottenham Hotspur released under-18 midfielder Kieran Morgan last summer and the teenager is now turning heads under Marti Cifuentes at QPR, having made the short move to west London as a free agent.

Morgan was initially snapped up by the R's as a member of the development squad but was fast-tracked to the senior side as the first team struggled for form. He has been a key man in reversing QPR form, starting six matches since the end of November with the London side losing just once.

The midfielder had worked his way up through the Spurs academy since under-8 level but was not kept on following the conclusion of his scholarship. With purring performances at QPR, that looks to be a decision that the club could look to regret.

Former Tottenham Hotspur teen praised by QPR boss

Morgan scored his first senior goal against Coventry City to rescue a point in October and picked up his first assist in the 3-1 win over Watford last weekend. The midfielder was praised for his energy and quality in an 8/10 performance in that match by West London Sport, with the outlet writing: "The young midfielder goes from strength to strength. He set up the opening goal by pulling the ball back to Michael Frey and again showed energy, quality – and bravery on the ball – in another very impressive outing."

Reacting to that Watford win and speaking about Morgan, Cifuentes said: “He’s a player that I really like. That’s why he came with us during pre-season. He’s been showing a lot of good things.

"We have to be a little bit careful and go step-by-step with him, but he’s playing the minutes that he deserves. He’s so smart, so mature. Now we need to take care of him.”

Speaking to The Sun this week, Morgan namechecked Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard as his biggest inspiration, rubbing salt into the wounds of his former North London club. He said: "I like Odegaard. It's everything he does on and off the ball. There's so much work he does out of possession. His assist against Chelsea before Christmas time was unreal."

Morgan on conversations with fellow Spurs youth graduates

Reflecting on his time with Spurs, he added: "My parents Paul and Lisa, and sometimes my brother Connor, would drive me the three-hour round trip to training and games until I moved into digs at the age of 16. I enjoyed my time at Tottenham.

"When I reached the age of around 14, 15, I remember having conversations with a group of first-teamers that included Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga. Because they came through the academy, they were talking about how they were in our position and what they did to get where they were at Tottenham.

"All said they had setbacks, whether that's injury or not playing, and how they carried on working hard during those moments - not sulking - and everything fell into place.

“When I was promoted from the development squad [at QPR this season], I didn't think I did well every day but now realise how quickly I've adapted to the speed of it, on and off the ball. Then physically in the gym, there's a lot more specific work you do compared to earlier.”