It's very early days but former Tottenham coach Matt Wells is already starting to get noticed for his work in transforming struggling MLS side Colorado Rapids.

The 37-year-old made the switch in December to leave Thomas Frank's side and take on his first managerial role across the Atlantic ahead of the new MLS season which kicks off this weekend. Wells is Spursthrough and through, having come through the north London club's academy as a player before injuries forced him into coaching and he swiftly rose through the ranks within the club's youth set-up.

Wells is a grandson of Tottenham double-winning legend Cliff Jones and after cutting his teeth alongside the late Ugo Ehiogu in the academy, he followed Scott Parker as one of his coaches at Fulham, then as his assistant at Bournemouth and Club Brugge.

After returning to north London to assist Ryan Mason in his second caretaker spell at Spurs, Ange Postecoglouasked Wells to stay on as part of his staff before making him his assistant head coach in his second season. Frank then also looked to keep Wells on his staff before the offer to kick off his managerial career in Colorado came along.

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There is of course the irony that with Frank being sacked last week, Wells would have been a strong contender to take over as interim head coach due to how highly he is rated within the club. Instead, with the young coach now on the other side of the world, former Juventus boss Igor Tudor has taken the reins until the end of the season.

Like Tudor, Wells' task also involves rejuvenating a side that has become far too used to losing and the early signs are that he is starting to leave his mark on the team ahead of Sunday's tough MLS opener against the Seattle Sounders.

Rapids finished 21st in the overall table last season with just 11 wins from their 34 matches, missing out on the play-offs, and there would have been some wariness among a disgruntled fanbase about the team taking on a first-time coach in the Tottenham man to turn around their fortunes.

After spending much of pre-season getting his players fit enough for his high energy brand of attacking football, Colorado's final warm-up game against fellow MLS side Orlando City brought a first real glimpse at the movement Wells wants his team to play with and they ran out 4-1 winners with two goals in either half. It was the football on display though that started to get people talking.

Former MLS player and now pundit Dax McCarty was watching the match and posted on X: "Attended the Rapids-Orlando City game. I’m willing to admit it’s still preseason and this might be a slight overreaction BUT if tonight is any indication, Colorado is going to look like prime Brighton under De Zerbi. Orlando need Ojeda healthy and some fullbacks. Bring on week 1!"

Braidon Nourse, who covers the Rapids for the Denver Post, said: "The Colorado Rapids posted highlights from the final preseason game against Orlando tonight on YouTube. Just the goals but we’ll take it, recommend watching. Wells ball looking good."

One fan, @isaac_ce41, replied to those highlights: "The goals we scored were beautiful, I can’t wait to see how we play on Sunday!" Another said: "Not used to winning. What is this feeling?"

Local journalists have cautiously tipped Colorado to become a play-off team again under Wells even if it is very early days in his tenure as he looks to get his methods across to his players.

Seattle will pose a very tough opening day test for Rapids after they finished fifth in the Western Conference last season and 10th in the overall table, qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

For those looking for a Tottenham reunion, mark April 23 in your diaries, as a week after hosting Lionel Messi and David Beckham's Inter Miami, Colorado and Wells travel to Los Angeles where they will take on an LAFC team featuring Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris meaning a big Spurs meet-up in the city of angels.

For now though Wells will be focusing on what lies immediately ahead and a big task in turning around Colorado's fortunes while showing everyone the kind of football he wants to be associated with.

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