End-of-Term Report on Tottenham's Brentford Loanee Alex Pritchard

Alex Pritchard is poised to join Jermain Defoe, John Terry and teammate Harry Kane as a great success story of the loan system. 

Each have gone on to grace England's senior team after spending time in the lower divisions, and to hear Brentford boss Mark Warburton talk, the 22-year-old Pritchard will emulate them soon enough. 

Warburton left no room for confusion with his praise for Pritchard, telling the Guardian: "I think Alex goes on to grace White Hart Lane. He's got so much ability, and he's hungry for more. I think he'll grace the international stage, too."

After a season's loan when he scored 12 goals, laid on seven assists and created 86 chances from open play, Pritchard has the resume to demand a place in Tottenham's squad at the very least. 

Of course, that level of talent has been evident in his time in the youth ranks. His problem has been bringing his skill to bear in a decisive way. 

He has reached a level of consistency that suggests his temperament has grown to much his prodigious talent.

One of Pritchard's problems at youth level was a tendency to stand back and admire a pass after he had played it, rather than move into a better position. He has largely ironed this kink out of his game. He is now a dynamo without the ball as much as he always has been in possession. 

Squawka rates Pritchard's season at Brentford as stronger than any of his teammates. He was man of the match five times, the best player on his team nine times and his goals secured points for his loan club eight times. 

Of those outstanding performances, few could match his display against eventual Championship title winners Bournemouth. That day, he scored a dipping free-kick and assisted two more goals in a 3-1 win that was crucial to the Bees' eventual playoff place. 

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Pritchard quickly became a senior member of Brentford's squad and helped lead them to the playoff places in the notoriously competitive Championship. 

He was the beneficiary of more than his fair share of Championship-quality goalkeepers, but Pritchard still looks a danger whenever he takes possession in the final third. 

Despite his willingness to drift into wide areas in attack, Pritchard is not a winger. He does not cross well on the run but is rather like a more explosive and less skillful Christian Eriksen. He belongs in the centre and will compete for a role in Spurs' midfield. 

Given head coach Mauricio Pochettino's preference for populating his midfield with defensively capable players, Pritchard is not a candidate to replace Nabil Bentaleb or Ryan Mason. Instead, he will compete with Eriksen for the role in front of the midfield. 

Eriksen's preeminence in Spurs' squad means Pritchard has his work cut out for him. 

Having been named in Gareth Southgate's under-21 side for the upcoming European Championships, Spurs fans will get another chance to run the rule over Pritchard before he returns for his next club campaign. 

That tournament has seen the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Mesut Ozil break into the international stage, and with no other European tournaments this summer, the eyes of the world will be on the Czech Republic. It will be worth watching out for whether Pritchard can repeat his Brentford form. 

Pritchard's full Tottenham debut is one of the most highly anticipated in recent years.

As Spurs' season has dried up and interest has waned, many fans have turned their attention to Pritchard's burgeoning career in the Championship. 

A wildly successful season's loan at Brentford has seen him develop a cult status, but the consistent level of excellence he has shown proves he is ready for his opportunity.