As Tottenham’s wastefulness once again cost them dearly last weekend, former academy striker Will Lankshear continued his scintillating start to the season with another goal for Middlesbrough.

‘Can he do it on a cold, rainy Tuesday night in Stoke?’ is the ultimate cliche litmus test for a footballer’s ability, so you know Lankshear must have something special if he was able to answer that question at the first time of asking for his new club.

Signed from Spurs in the summer for a fee that could rise to £20million, Lankshear has taken the Championship by storm this season, putting his former club on watch as they search desperately for a consistent source of goals.

Midway through October, Lankshear is already in double figures for goals across all competitions, and looks set to propel Middlesbrough’s Premier League promotion push.

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland is the only other player to reach that number so far this term across all of English football’s top four divisions.

The 21-year-old’s form has taken plenty by surprise, but Spurs were always aware of the talent Lankshear possessed, and so they hedged their bets when negotiating his sale this summer.

Tottenham focused on maximising player sales from the club’s academy during the window, but with those players they believed could push on and secure big-money moves in the future, they included a matching-rights clause.

Lankshear and his former Spurs, now Middlesbrough, teammate Ashley Phillips were two of the players they were keen not to lose complete control over, alongside teenage winger Tynan Thompson, who joined Manchester United.

With matching rights in place for both Phillips and Lankshear, Tottenham will have the right to equal any future bid that Middlesbrough accepts for either player, with Spurs then given priority to finalise a deal ahead of any rival suitor.

If Lankshear keeps scoring at his current rate, then Tottenham will no doubt be interested in taking him back to the club.

But even if they decline to use their matching rights, they still hold a 20 per cent sell-on clause should the England youth international move from Middlesbrough to another club.

Given Spurs’ struggles in front of goal, Lankshear’s development will be watched closely. Tottenham are determined to ensure this is not the one that gets away.