Tottenham made a winning start to pre-season with a 1-0 victory over newly-promoted League One side MK Dons at Hotspur Way.

The win came courtesy of a stunning volleyed goal from new Spurs signing Mateus Fernandes.

He was one of three summer arrivals on display as Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi used 21 players across the 90 minutes.

Here, Sky Sports assesses Spurs’ first pre-season friendly…

Fernandes shines

“It was my favourite goal of my career by a mile.”

Just three minutes into his first Spurs game, Fernandes made the dream start to life in north London.

The midfielder, who joined from West Ham for £85m, expertly kept his eye on a high ball cleared at a corner to superbly smash a first-time volleyed screamer from the edge of the box to give Spurs an early lead.

What a way to introduce yourself to Spurs fans, whose excitement levels will have increased watching his 45-minute display before he was taken off as part of De Zerbi’s wholesale half-time changes.

The Portugal international started alongside club-record £100m signing Sandro Tonali in a double pivot as Spurs’ new £185m midfield duo gave De Zerbi’s side complete control.

Fernandes’ willingness to play forward passes, which did not always come off, was a particular positive considering the lack of creativity last season.

Tonali and Dubravka make solid debuts

Fernandes may have outshone midfield partner Tonali, but the Italy international kept things ticking over in midfield nicely.

When he and Fernandes were replaced at half-time, Spurs lost their grip on the game.

There will be much more to come from Tonali, who provided the steel alongside Fernandes’ flair, including one incident where he got back to cynically stop an MK Dons counter-attack for a free-kick.

A third summer signing was introduced at half-time in goalkeeper Martin Dubravka – and he was excellent.

The 37-year-old defied his age with brilliant reflexes to keep out a late MK Dons close-range header.

Dubravka looks to be a fine piece of free-transfer business as an able deputy to the new number one, Antonin Kinsky, who started the game and looked assured with the ball at his feet.

Plenty of absentees in win

Kinsky’s promotion as first choice and Dubravka’s arrival has put Guglielmo Vicario’s future in serious doubt, and it was no surprise to see the Juventus and Napoli target missing against MK Dons.

His fellow Italy international, Destiny Udogie, was also absent, but Spurs’ first-choice left-back was part of a group of players watching the game.

Summer signings Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke were among those on the sidelines, with their debuts having to wait.

The pair have only recently returned from the World Cup, as have Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall, who were also seen watching on along with James Maddison.

But with Sky Sports News understanding Bergvall wants to leave the club this summer, his pre-season game time will be one to watch amid interest from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

There was no sign of Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons or Wilson Odobert as they continue their recoveries from injury.

Teenage kicks

With plenty of senior players missing, it gave the youngsters a chance to impress.

Mikey Moore, fresh from his loan spell at Rangers last season and “buzzing to be back”, caught the eye off the left and the 18-year-old will try to push his case in pre-season to be part of De Zerbi’s plans for the upcoming campaign.

Midfielder Rio Kyerematen was the only player to play the full 90 minutes as the 21-year-old, who is yet to make his first-team competitive debut, showed his versatility filling in at left-back for the first half and then at right-back for the second half.

But it was fellow teenager Luca Williams-Barnett who shone brightest of Spurs’ youth.

The attacking midfielder was deployed in a deeper role and showed tremendous confidence and fearlessness.

A notable highlight was the 17-year-old’s pinpoint pass over the top for Min-Hyeok Yang, who somehow missed an open-goal chance despite having produced a fantastic touch to round the goalkeeper.

Williams-Barnett’s only first-team appearance came last season, but on the evidence of this 45-minute display, he could well force himself into De Zerbi’s plans.

After a summer of academy sales following the exits of Will Lankshear, Tynan Thompson and Alfie Devine for £34m, it was encouraging to see some of Spurs’ products catch the eye.

Williams-Barnett, Moore and Kyerematen will be hoping to be given more chances on Spurs’ tour of Australia and New Zealand as the north London side next face Auckland FC at 4am UK time on Sunday.

Spurs’ pre-season schedule

July 22: Tottenham 1-0 MK Dons – Spurs training ground
Sunday: Tottenham vs Auckland FC – Auckland, 4am (UK time)
July 29: Tottenham vs Sydney FC – Sydney, 10.45am (UK time)
August 1: Tottenham vs Chelsea – Sydney, 10.45am (UK time)
August 8: Tottenham vs Getafe – Spurs training ground (behind closed doors), 3pm
August 15: Tottenham vs Hoffenheim – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 3pm
August 16: Tottenham vs Hoffenheim – Spurs training ground (behind closed doors), 12pm

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday’s newspapers…

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is said to be pushing for a move to Real Madrid after winning the World Cup with Spain – Daily Mail

Rodri’s future could have a direct impact on what happens with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga amid interest from several Premier League clubs – Daily Mail

Any hopes of a transfer move may be impacted by reports that the Spain captain is set to undergo surgery on a back injury – The Athletic

Liverpool believe they are in the driving seat in the race to sign Bradley Barcola, who is also linked with Arsenal – The Sun

Bruno Fernandes is expected to confirm that he is pledging his future to Manchester United at the end of this month – Daily Mirror

Manchester United are close to completing the double signing of youth starlets David Eze and Karim Cassim from Manchester City – Daily Mail

CHAMPIONSHIP

Wolves were forced to cancel training after forward Tolu Arokodare refused to leave despite being banned by boss Cesar Peixoto – Daily Mirror

WORLD CUP

Argentina coach Roberto Ayala claimed that footage showing him ‘punching’ Spain star Dani Olmo after the World Cup final was ‘more of a push’ – Daily Mirror

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher prefers to stay put at Old Trafford this season despite interest from Scotland – Daily Mail

Dundee United are closing in on Ivory Coast youngster Abdoulaye Yoro – The Scottish Sun

Former Australia batter Aaron Finch likened England’s recent coaching and captaincy upheaval to a ‘circus’ and says many Australians have been watching things unfold from afar ‘giggling’ at their old rivals.

Ben Stokes sensationally announced his retirement from international cricket during his side’s final Test match of their series defeat by New Zealand in June, with head coach Brendon McCullum later dismissed as head coach of the red-ball side.

The Test side are therefore set for major changes amid a slump in form, having lost seven of their last nine matches.

Speaking to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Finch, who captained Australia in both white-ball formats, questioned England’s stubbornness during their recent tour Down Under, as well as some of the decisions being made by England’s hierarchy.

“You never want to see players feel like they’re being forced out or coaches be sacked,” Finch told Sky Sports Cricket’s Michael Atherton. “But the way that it’s all panned out, it has been a little bit like a circus.

“When you look back to the preparation of the Ashes, I thought, not having a warm-up game for whatever reason. Everyone’s got their opinion on why they weren’t able to have one at the WACA, which is the closest replication you can have to Perth Stadium.

“And almost shutting everybody out saying: ‘No, we know best. We know what we’re doing. We’re here to win’.

“And then for it to fall apart like that, to see where it goes in the New Zealand series, where New Zealand played traditional hard Test Cricket and found a way to grind out a win.

“They go on and win a series, which is hard to do away from home. Every team says that winning away from home is their biggest challenge.”

McCullum and Stokes’ departures will bring an end to the ‘Bazball’ era, which has seen England exhibit a brash brand of cricket that has raised eyebrows among some.

“I think that when you look at it as a whole, you say there’s been a few decisions that, whether it be style of play, shot selection, decisions behind the scenes, as an Australian, you sit back and giggle a little bit because at different times we’ve been in that position as well. But you can understand it,” Finch added.

Atherton also asked Finch whether any of his Australia teams had ever been subject to a curfew.

“Never,” he replied. “If there was, that would have been played out in black and white.

“It’s hard to know exactly what is going on without being inside those four walls.

“So you can speculate all you want, but from the outside, it has looked like a bit of a mess. So they’re in this tricky situation now where they’re trying to obviously find a Test coach.”