Christian Eriksen: Tottenham's Jose Mourinho says he needs to know what is in midfielder's heart

Eriksen was not picked in Mourinho's first Spurs XI

Christian Eriksen before kick-off at West Ham's London Stadium (Reuters)

Jose Mourinho has has said he needs to understand Christian Eriksen’s thinking before deciding how to tackle his future, as the new manager left the Danish international out of his first Tottenham line-up.

Mourinho took charge this week replacing the sacked Mauricio Pochettino, and his first XI to take on West Ham United on Saturday lunchtime featured an attacking quartet led by Harry Kane with Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura in support.

Asked whether he was simply continuing the set-up of Pochettino, Mourinho said: “It’s just not about continuity. The match today is very, very important and our future is very very important. I need to understand really what is in Christian’s mind or heart and we have to make the right decision for the club.”

But Mourinho backed his selection and revealed he has already begun working to find ways they can unlock the West Ham defence.

“Lucas, Sonny, Alli, Kane, they are players with a good understanding,” the manager said. “We are going to try with the little time we have to work some positions where they can hurt the opposition, and let’s see if we can do it because I like the ideas but I like to work the ideas.”