A Progress Report on the Tottenham Hotspur Players out on Loan

Tottenham Hotspur are traditionally one of the most active players in the loan market, and this season has been no exception. 

First-team members such as Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason and Harry Kane are walking proof of the value of Spurs' policy of getting first-team football for some of their most prodigious talents. 

This term, Spurs have sent 18 different players on a total of 23 different loans across the Premier League, Championship, League 1, League 2, MLS, Serie B, the Scottish Premiership and the Bundesliga.

Fans are always eager to stay up to date with their players' progress elsewhere, but the sheer number of Spurs players out on loan makes it almost impossible to keep track.

Here is all you need to know about Tottenham's loan stars as we approach the end of the 2014-15 season.

A Note on Methodology

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Not every Spurs player out on loan this season is worth knowing about. Some have very little chance of progressing to the first team and are likely auditioning for new clubs rather than honing their craft before returning to White Hart Lane.

Lewis Holtby is officially a loan player at Hamburg this season. However, the popular midfielder's transfer is likely to become permanent. Bild reported (H/T ESPN) earlier in the season that a clause in his loan was triggered after just three games. Regardless of the accuracy of that report, he is virtually certain not to return after this season.

The emergence of Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb and the pending arrival of Dele Alli means there will be no place in Spurs' squad for Holtby.

Aaron Lennon is also technically a loan player, but his move to Everton was not intended to foster professional development. The 28-year-old has made over 350 appearances for Spurs and is unlikely to have improved during his short-term stint on Merseyside. Instead, it was intended as an opportunity for Lennon to advertise his qualities to potential summer buyers. 

Now, onto the progress report.

Honest Triers: Grant Hall, Kenneth McEvoy and Shaquile Coulthirst

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Spurs defender Grant Hall has enjoyed two separate loan spells this season. In the first, with Birmingham City, he made just nine appearances in all competitions.

Originally set to be playing at St Andrews until the end of the season, Hall started brightly but was dropped after an 8-0 drubbing by Bournemouth and unused until his return to Spurs.

Hall moved to Blackpool in January, where he was a regular starter until an ankle injury ended his season in mid-April. It is interesting to note that Lee Clark signed Hall twice in one season, the former Newcastle United player moving from Birmingham to Blackpool in October.

Clark was effusive in his praise of the young defender, reported by BBC Sport, describing him as "a terrific young pro, a centre-half with pace who is comfortable on the ball."

Hall is promising but unlikely to break into Spurs' first team next season. At 23, he is probably approaching the point at which a permanent move elsewhere would be best for his development. 

Kenneth McEvoy, Gareth Bale's Irish doppelganger, is another player who played for two different clubs on loan this season. The youngster represented Peterborough United and Colchester United but was unable to make his mark at either club. He has also been a regular for Spurs' under-21 side during the season.

He played just a few minutes in his spell with Colchester and was eventually recalled early. 

McEvoy is pacy and a decent finisher but lacks the aggression and toughness required to make the most of his talents. If he is to break through at Spurs, it will take a more successful future loan to help bring out his best.

Spurs forward Shaquile Coulthirst was the gem of academy and development sides for years, and experienced watchers of Tottenham youth teams will be surprised to learn that he is still only 21. 

This season, in two relatively successful loan spells with Southend United and York City, Coulthirst notched six goals in 36 appearances. He has also featured regularly for the Spurs under-21s. 

Shrimpers boss Phil Brown praised Coulthirst for his conduct during the loan spell, as did York manager Russ Wilcox, relayed by Sky Sports.  

Both suggested that Coulthirst's attitude was perfect for the battleground of League 2, which bodes well for his potential future growth.

The time has not yet come for Coulthirst to join Mauricio Pochettino's first-team squad, but his continued development is wonderful to see. He is a player of real talent.

Exciting Youngsters: Grant Ward, Nathan Oduwa and Milos Veljkovic

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Young Tottenham midfielder Grant Ward joined Coventry City in March and played a crucial role in helping the club avoid relegation. 

The Coventry Telegraph praised the Spurs youngster after his final game on loan, saying that he "certainly has a big future ahead of him."

Italian club Udinese and Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna are reportedly interested in taking Ward on loan next season, reported by talkSPORT.

Tony Mowbray said he would love to take Ward back next season but admitted it was unlikely given that the quality of his performances have turned heads across Europe.

Mauricio Pochettino will afford Ward every chance to win a place in his squad during pre-season, and he is certainly one to watch after an excellent spell in the West Midlands. 

Nathan Oduwa is just 19, and big things are expected of him. 

Having scored 10 goals in 20 games for the under-21s last season, Oduwa certainly has the skill to make it at the top level.

A speedy winger, Oduwa was keen to be tested at the professional level and got his wish with a January transfer window deadline day move to Luton Town.

Hatters boss John Still described Oduwa as "strong, powerful, skilful and has pace to burn. He’s the kind of player who gets supporters off their seats."

The Telegraph agreed, marking Oduwa out as one of Spurs' most promising young players. 

Unfortunately, though he told Spurs' official site that he found his time with Luton to be "an amazing experience," his minutes were limited and he made just 11 appearances during his spell at Kenilworth Road. 

Regardless, Oduwa saw the value in getting his first taste of professional football, per the aforementioned article: "[It] has been a big eye-opener, finding out what it’s like to be around a senior team on a matchday after a loss or a win, and I hope that in some way I’ve been able to contribute something positive to Luton’s season."

The fact that Oduwa scored twice on his return to the Tottenham under-21s showed the loan did him no harm and has given Spurs fans even more reason to get excited about his prospects. 

Milos Veljkovic, the 19-year-old defender-cum-midfielder, spent time with Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic this season to gain his first real experience of professional football. 

Unfortunately, Veljkovic was restricted to just six starts and two substitute appearances across both loans. 

Shoulder surgery ended his spell at Charlton, where he made three appearances in his first month with the club. 

Veljkovic has since made his return for Spurs' under-21s and was praised for his positioning and composure by manager Ugo Ehiogu in an interview with the club's official website (h/t Here is the City). 

The Serbian has been with the club since 2011 and steadily climbed the ranks of Spurs' development system. At the same time, he has progressed through Serbia's youth international setup and is surely not far from a full international cap.

Veljkovic's next move is difficult to predict. Dan Coombs of Here is the City has suggested a loan spell with Celtic should be considered, but Pochettino may rate Veljkovic highly enough to promote him to the first team.

Spurs blogger Chris Miller believes that Veljkovic can make a first-team impact next season, and there are few better and more experienced judges of young Tottenham players than him.

First-Team Ready: Alex Pritchard, Tom Carroll and Dele Alli

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Beyond Harry Kane, few players have generated as much excitement among Spurs fans this season as Alex Pritchard. 

Twelve goals and seven assists during a virtually ever-present loan spell at Brentford have seen Pritchard rise in the estimation of most casual observers.

Named in the Championship Team of the Year, reported by the London Evening Standard, Pritchard has been a star in the Bees' ongoing promotion campaign. 

Pritchard's career at Spurs has largely followed the ideal route for young talent. He progressed through previous loans at Peterborough and Swindon Town while simultaneously emerging as an England youth international.

His highlights have been mightily impressive, and his ability to retain possession in heavy traffic is particularly eye-catching. Spurs have struggled to break down defensive teams and lack the pure dribblers that are vital in such situations.

His talent has never been in doubt, but consistency was a concern in previous seasons. Having completed more final-third passes than any player in the Championship this season, per Opta (h/t Here Is the City), he seems to have put those issues behind him.

That team-mate Alan Judge was the third-highest in this category means final-third passing is evidently a function of Brentford's style, but having also created over 100 chances this season, Pritchard has proved his quality.

He will certainly be given his chance to impress Mauricio Pochettino in pre-season, and the diminutive 22-year-old could be a first-team regular before long.

He could also be a candidate for a Premier League loan, with Tim Sherwood reportedly keen to take him to Villa Park next season, reported by the Daily Telegraph.

Tom Carroll made his Spurs first-team debut five years and four managers ago, so it is surprising that he is still only 22. Having progressed from League One Leyton Orient to the Championship's Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, Carroll has now spent a full season with Swansea City in the Premier League. 

After making 18 appearances, often as a substitute, Carroll was injured on England under-21 duty in April.

Carroll is an excellent young player, Luka Modric-esque in style and could certainly play a role for Spurs in the future. He will likely get his chance to sink or swim in the next campaign. 

Dele Alli, signed from MK Dons in January, may be the most exciting player Spurs have out on loan this season.

The sensational 19-year-old scored 16 goals and made 11 more as Dons secured promotion from League One to the Championship.

Comparisons with Steven Gerrard are perhaps a little premature, but he certainly has the potential to rise to that level. He is already comparable with the worst-case scenario Jermaine Jenas. 

Three Championship clubs have been linked with Alli for next season, per MK Web, but he has the quality to play Premier League football and should be afforded that chance with Spurs.