Richarlison scored for Tottenham's under-21s in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie at Cheltenham, his first appearance since being left out of the first-team squad. The Brazilian has not played for the senior side since the opening-day defeat at Brentford on 22 August, after being omitted from the 25-man Premier League squad list.
Attitude praised by Cheltenham boss
Richarlison, who was told he was not part of the plans for this season, scored after 56 minutes in a 2-2 draw and converted a spot-kick in a 7-6 penalty shootout loss. The Cheltenham manager, Steve Cotterill, told Gloucestershire Live: "We weren't expecting it. When I found out he was on the team sheet, I was actually chuffed with that. It gives our lads a glimpse of what it's like at that top level."
Cotterill added: "Richarlison's attitude was immaculate tonight. He was really, really good and his attitude was great. He could have easily come down here and thought: 'I am not too bothered about tonight.'"
First appearance in limbo spell
Failed moves to Trabzonspor and Vasco da Gama, after talks with Everton collapsed in the final days before the transfer window in England shut, have left Richarlison in limbo for the first half of the campaign. After his fine first-time finish, Tottenham's academy players joined him in performing his pigeon celebration.
He later posted on Instagram: "Happy to do what I love the most in life. I was missing it!" Roberto De Zerbi and the rest of the Spurs squad are in Marbella for warm weather training.
