TOTTENHAM have recalled young striker Dane Scarlett from Oxford - but plan to loan him out again.
Spurs' first team are painfully short of attacking options after Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson joined their massive list of injuries.
But rather than Scarlett being brought back to bolster numbers, the 20-year-old has been recalled due to a lack of game-time at Championship side United.
The N17 academy product made just seven league starts for the Yellows, netting four times.
Spurs are looking to farm him back out in this window to boost his experience.
The North Londoners remain on the lookout for a new forward this window, having brought in only goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky so far.
They missed out on Randal Kolo Muani, who is joining Juventus on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Boss Ange Postecoglou said after Sunday's defeat to Everton that the club were doing everything in their power to add new faces, but that nothing was "imminent".
The Aussie, whose job remains safe despite recording a 12th league loss of the season at Goodison Park, added: "The club's well aware of our situation and they're doing their utmost.
"As far as I know at the moment there's nothing imminent.
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"But you know, I assume between now and we're getting to the end of the window that hopefully something comes up."
Spurs were without ten players at the Toffees, including four attacking players.
Solanke is set to miss the next few weeks with a knee problem, while Johnson faces a month out with a knock.
Timo Werner is still three weeks away with a hamstring injury - which is the same issue that has ruled summer signing Wilson Odobert for most of the campaign.
Scarlett became Tottenham's youngest-ever debutant in 2021 and drew praise from then-manager Jose Mourinho.
The Special One said: "He is a diamond, a kid with incredible potential.
"He is going to be a fantastic player and I hope everything around him goes well.
"He is a striker, a number nine, I have been playing him from the sides similar to Marcus Rashford and he is very clever."
Scarlett, now 20, has played for England at five different age levels.
He has previously been on loan to Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.