Mauricio Pochettino: Juan Foyth can 'show why he is here' in battle against West Ham's Andy Carroll

The Tottenham manager said he's likely to start the 19-year-old against West Ham in Wednesday's League Cup fourth-round tie

Juan Foyth in training for Tottenham (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino believes a derby battle with Andy Carroll will be one of the best possible experiences for new centre-half Juan Foyth, to “show why he is here”, as he stated he would likely start the 19-year-old for Wednesday’s League Cup fourth-round tie with West Ham United.

The £8m summer signing from Estudiantes has only played one game for Tottenham Hotspur so far, in the League Cup against Barnsley, but Pochettino said that such displays can be a foundation to get into the first XI for bigger matches in the same way that Harry Winks has done.

Speaking with a smile on his face, Pochettino said he used to relish playing against bigger strikers when he was a centre-half. Foyth is hardly small at 6ft 3in, but Carroll is still an inch taller.

“I think Juan is the same height as Toby [Alderweireld], Jan [Vertonghen], Davinson [Sanchez],” Pochettino said. “I played when I was 17 or 18 against a massive striker and I'm smaller than Juan.

“I was most pleased to play bigger rather than smaller. Smaller players are so quick with a low [centre of gravity]. They're difficult to catch!

“Come on! You need to show! He's at Tottenham, he's a Tottenham player. He needs to fight and prove himself that he can compete in this type of games.

“Foyth is young but he needs to show why he is here. And maybe he has the possibility to play. But you will only know if he is ready to play, if he plays. He played against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, was very good and maybe tomorrow he has the possibility to play. Maybe in the future, some players are suspended or maybe we have some injuries, and we'll play with him. And maybe he will be decisive. It was the same with Michel Vorm, when Hugo [Lloris] was injured. That is the most important to keep all the squad believing and playing and make everyone competitive.”

West Ham will be hoping for a top-half finish this season (Getty Images)

Pochettino pointed to how players can use games like this to force themselves in, and greatly broaden his own options.

“He's in the squad maybe in the future. One month and a half ago, no-one believed if I told you that we're going to play at the Santiago Bernabeu with [Moussa] Sissoko, Harry Winks and Christian Eriksen in midfield. You'd say, 'The gaffer will be crazy!' Because we are going to play against Kross, Modric, Casemiro, Isco. Yes or no?”