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Mateus Fernandes produced a fine display on his full Tottenham debut against Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup second round. Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the Carabao Cup third round with a 5-1 rout of Championship side Charlton Athletic on Wednesday evening. New signing Savio hogged the limelight on his Spurs debut. The 22-year-old’s performance for the Lilywhites could not have gone any better, with the fleet-footed winger lifting everyone up with a goal and an assist in a lively display. The Brazilian showed glimpses of what he could bring to the team this season and beyond. Mateus Fernandes made his full Tottenham debut against Charlton Athletic. The central midfielder, signed in an £85milllion deal from West Ham in July, came off the bench in the 3-0 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in the North London club’s season opener. The youngster was handed his first start by the gaffer, and the Portuguese international did not disappoint. Roberto De Zerbi makes admission on Mateus Fernandes’ full Tottenham debut vs. Charlton Athletic Mateus Fernandes started in a midfield three alongside Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur. Across 90 minutes, the 22-year-old made 57 of 64 successful passes with an 89% accuracy, completed 3/3 long balls, made three key passes and provided an assist for Dominic Solanke’s goal. He won three ground duels, intercepted once, made three recoveries and a clearance. (Stats courtesy: SofaScore). Roberto De Zerbi was asked about Fernandes’ performance against the Championship side in the post-match press conference. The Italian tactician praised the player’s versatility to cover two positions on the pitch, whilst admiring his technical quality and fight. “Mateus Fernandes is another talent, big talent. We are lucky because he can cover two positions on the pitch, like as a pivot or number 10,” De Zerbi said. (h/t Football London) “Anyway, he brings quality, he is dynamic and he fights on the pitch, because I think in the last season he was one of the best players in terms of regaining the ball, in the duel.” Fernandes is expected to be rewarded with a start vs. Newcastle United Tottenham’s next test will be against Newcastle United at home in the Premier League. The Lilywhites will be desperate to register their first points on the board after losing heavily to Brentford last weekend. Changes in XI are inevitable, but De Zerbi is expected to stick with Fernandes in the middle of the park. The one-cap Portugal international made a real statement of intent with an all-round performance vs. Charlton. Most importantly, he got to impose himself as a tempo-controlling midfielder, showing the ability in and out of possession that made him one of the rare bright spots for West Ham last term. The Lisbon-born talent is set to face a graver test against Newcastle, and a strong performance at the weekend will polish his credentials further.