"I'll just play like I did at Tottenham"

Bergvall, 19, laughs when Tottenham's injury woes are brought up.

It hasn't been a "fair" season considering how many injuries we've had. When we had the most, we only had 12-13 first-team players, so it was just a matter of pushing on.

Injuries are clearly a major factor, he says about the club's current 14th place in the Premier League table.

Other numbers are more enjoyable – those that show the trust and responsibility Lucas Bergvall has been given already in his debut season. 1,893 minutes played so far, divided into 38 matches.

"Incredibly intense"

I don't really know what I expected, but it wasn't quite what I had thought.

It's been incredibly intense, with two matches a week for three months. Sick. It's something completely different from what you're used to, he says.

Praise and appreciation have poured in. He takes it all with a smile. At least outwardly, he appears to be vaccinated against flattery.

I just try to play football, help the team, and develop. Then it's nice to hear those things, but it's not something I focus on.

The national team's assistant coach Sebastian Larsson is delighted with Bergvall.

I would say it's very unusual to make that leap at his age, from Allsvenskan to the Premier League and to a club with high pressure. I think you can see that Lucas is mentally stable. He steps in and delivers.

Impressed?

Yes, it's not many players who have left Allsvenskan and directly gained the trust in, in my opinion, the world's best league. It's a big step. Normally, you need an adjustment period.

For that, you should remember, if a club like Tottenham hadn't thought he was performing, then you wouldn't be playing that player. That's the biggest proof that he's done well, says Larsson.

Debut from start

The next phase in Bergvall's career is to get and take more space in the national team. Three substitute appearances in the Nations League last autumn and one on a January tour – that's all.

Now, national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is letting him start from the beginning in the international match against Luxembourg on Saturday.