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Mauricio Pochettino admits his Tottenham squad is ripe for refreshment after latest spate of injuries

However, the Argentinian is adamant he would rather see the January transfer window shut with zero new additions than bring in a new face just for the sake of it

Jon West
Thursday 18 October 2018 18:55 BST
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West Ham v Tottenham Premier League match preview

Mauricio Pochettino admits his Tottenham squad is ripe for refreshing following a transfer-less summer.

But the Argentinian is adamant he would rather see the January transfer window shut with zero new additions than bring in a new face just for the sake of it.

Tottenham make the short journey across London to West Ham on Saturday to take on hosts who spent £100 million on nine new players as well as recruiting former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager.

Of course, the Hammers had a pressing need for new recruits having flirted with relegation for most of last season, which saw Tottenham once again qualify for the Champions League.

Both Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen will miss the match through injury

Buying zero players was nevertheless unheard of for any Premier League club and Tottenham’s summer of inactivity became a talking point once again when chairman Daniel Levy discussed it with a meeting of the Tottenham Supporters’ Trust.

Levy told those present that the new stadium at White Hart Lane would not affect the recruitment of new players, that the club had a “certain amount earmarked for transfers” and had based the summer window on “assumptions that some players might be leaving and certain targets would be available”.

Injuries to first team regulars have bit hard into Pochettino’s squad, with Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen the current high-profile absentees.

The Argentinian made no promises he would strengthen in January however, even though he described bringing in new players as a natural process for a manager.

“All the coaching staff, managers, always want to improve the squad,” he said. “Sometimes by signing players or adding players from the academy.

Christian Eriksen is set to return after recovering from a stomach illness

“Of course we are always trying to improve our squad because football is dynamic. Every six months you need to do something to refresh and to wake up. Or change the dynamic in the dressing room. That is the history in every single club.

“But if you can not achieve what you need or want, to sign because you need to make people happy or act like other clubs, I think that is not common sense.

“We showed that we did do not care and we are not populists. It is easy to say we are going to sign three players and ‘oh look, the people are happy because we signed’.

“If we don’t need the players who are available then why sign them? That is the point.”

Hopes that Alli’s hamstring problem would clear up in time for Wednesday’s Champions League game at PSV Eindhoven have been dashed.

The England midfielder, who last played on September 26, will now work on being available for the Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Monday October 29.

Danny Rose is also out injured with an injury to his groin

Left-back Danny Rose, currently out with a groin problem, should be back for the league leaders’ arrival at Wembley.

Christian Eriksen, out since September 22 because of an abdominal problem, is fit to face the Hammers, although he may start on the bench. Fellow midfielder Moussa Dembele is also back in contention following a thigh injury.

Tottenham play West Ham again in the League Cup just two days after the City game so Pochettino is keen to rotate as many players as possible.

“It will be a tough month of competition for us,” he said. “There are a lot of games ahead and it’s so important to have nearly all the squad fit to compete and play and to give options to rotate and share the games. We have seven games in four weeks, and it’s so important to have all fit to compete and to give the level that we want.”

Tottenham have won their last four London derbies in the Premier League, including a 3-1 success over Fulham in August. Five in a row has not been achieved since 1961.

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