Mauricio Pochettino has praised Andros Townsend’s attitude, saying it was the Tottenham Hotspur winger’s decision to play for the club’s under-21 team at Middlesbrough on Monday. But the manager did hint that Townsend’s future may lie away from White Hart Lane, when he said that the player had “a big future in football, here or at another club”.
Townsend has not kicked a ball for Pochettino’s team since 22 October, when he started the 2-1 Europa League defeat at Anderlecht and has made only eight appearances this season – one of them for England. He incurred Pochettino’s wrath after the home win over Aston Villa on 2 November, in which he was an unused substitute, when he argued with the fitness coach Nathan Gardiner during the post-match warm-down.
Pochettino banished him, briefly, to train with the development squad and Tottenham are expected to listen to offers for him in January, particularly if the attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard can return from his serious ankle injury. But Townsend is back in the first-team fold and he impressed Pochettino with his desire to pep up his fitness in the under-21s during their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
“He has been on the bench for some games but he was out of the squad against Chelsea on Sunday and he asked to play for the under-21s against Middlesbrough,” Pochettino said. “It’s a very good thing because the player was out and didn’t play for many weeks and it was a good opportunity.
“It’s a very good attitude to want to play for the under-21s, to keep working hard and keep his physical levels and condition up. There are no issues. He’s still young and he has a big future in football, here or at another club. Always, you need to learn in football.”
Pochettino reported that Ryan Mason would be out for two weeks with the ankle injury that he suffered against Chelsea while Nacer Chadli and Nabil Bentaleb are due to return to full training on Friday after ankle problems of their own. Neither will be considered for Saturday’s visit to West Bromwich Albion. Dele Alli is available again after suspension.
