Fair play to Fulham’s under 21s who produced a far more fitting sign off to the season at Craven Cottage than their senior counterparts managed by winning the Premier League Cup in some style with a complete demolition of Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Callum Osmand’s hat-trick heroics have already hogged the headlines, but this success was a team effort that had its genesis in the bold decision to hand control of the under-21 side over to Hayden Mullins last summer. The former Crystal Palace and West Ham midfielder was an intriguing choice as the Whites looked to build on the success of returning to the PL2’s top flight under Steve Wigley and his progressive coaching methods have delivered in spades.

The most impressive part of this victory was the way in which the young Whites comprehensive picked apart their opponents, who had finished top of the league table at the end of the regular season, and strolled to a comfortable victory at Motspur Park only a matter of weeks ago. There is a constant debate about the purpose of under-21 football and the value of results at this level as you look to give young players a pathway towards senior football, but Fulham’s football was spellbinding and a number of these talents should have a significant future in the professional game.

Osmand has enjoyed an exceptional season for both the under-18s and under-21s and took his chance to shine on the big stage impressively. But there were peerless performances all over the pitch. We know about the potential of Luc de Fougerolles, who kept Spurs’ myriad of attacking threats very quiet alongside the equally miserly Harvey Araujo – and both centre halves were equally adept at distributing the ball, which is non-negotiable in the modern game. It will be interesting to see whether the Canadian international gets a chance to make his Premier League debut at Luton on Sunday in the absence of the suspended Issa Diop.

Both full backs were exceptional. Devan Tanton has been outstanding all year and deservedly won the Johnny Haynes’ academy player of the year trophy for achieving such consistency as a forward-thinking right back. Jon Esenga was unfortunately forced off early through injury but his appetite for attacking was considerable and, as a dead-ball specialist, he posed particular problems for an overworked Tottenham goalkeeper in Luca Gunter.

The midfield was a real maturity about it at this level. New Zealand talent Matt Dibley-Dias has done very well to battle back from an untimely injury that prevented him from making his international debut and has forged an excellent partnership in the engine room alongside Delano McCoy-Splatt, who has already received senior international caps from Jamaica. Adrion Pajaziti, who made his senior debut in Marco Silva’s first season, has been a mainstay in this side for a number of years and will be looking to make his mark in the senior ranks next season whilst the talents of Terrell Works, a livewire on the wing, and the tenacious George Okkas – who scored Fulham’s fourth just after half time – were on full display last night.

The most encouraging element of the academy’s development is that there are plenty of other players whose potential was not on view last night. Ali Melloul’s under-18 side has a number of youngsters that we will really need to keep an eye on, whilst this Cup final success came without Josh King – the latest sensation to have come off the Motspur Park conveyor belt – playing a minute. Silva has already shown he is willing to give young talent the opportunity to express itself and, after lifting silverware in such style, there’s no doubt that Fulham’s future is very bright indeed.