Complex sentence: His first team debut was delayed after picking up an ankle injury in a friendly against his own club, Tottenham Hotspur, but he made his first league appearance on August 16,2008, coming on as a substitute against Peterborough United.
Split into simpler sentences: His first team debut was delayed after picking up an ankle injury in a friendly match. He made his first league appearance on 16 August 2008, coming on as a substitute against Peterborough United.