Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Sissoko remains in Tottenham's first-team plans - Pochettino

ORLANDO -- Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says Moussa Sissoko is in his plans for the new season.

Sissoko was left at home for Tottenham's preseason trip to the United States -- which started with a 4-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the International Champions Cup on Saturday -- with a virus.

The France international had recovered before the squad left on Wednesday but he had missed four days of training, and the club felt the journey -- plus the extreme heat and humidity in Florida -- would not help Sissoko's preparations for the new season.

The 27-year-old cost Spurs £30 million last summer but he started just eight Premier League games and was publicly criticised by Pochettino for his performances in training.

Sissoko has been linked with a move away from Spurs this summer but Pochettino, who left the unwanted members of his first-team squad out of last season's preseason trip to Australia, says he is staying.

Pochettino answered a question about Sissoko's future in Spanish, and it was translated to English by his assistant Jesus Perez, who said: "Basically he explained the situation with Moussa Sissoko and the club. He's training at the training ground. He's a member of the squad. He's in his plans for the season and he is, for us, a member of the squad."

Danny Rose (knee), Erik Lamela (hip) and Son Heung-Min (arm) have also remained behind after undergoing surgery.

"Lamela and Son and Moussa Sissoko are at the training ground, recovering at different levels of training there," Pochettino said.

"Danny Rose was in New York and is going tomorrow to London again to start his recovery on the training ground. All of them are at different levels. Will see in the next few weeks the evolution for everyone."

Pochettino handed starts to young players Under-20 World Cup winners Joshua Onomah and Kyle Walker-Peters, as well as Cameron Carter-Vickers in the win over PSG in Orlando. Michael Wise [10:37 AM]

Centre-half Carter-Vickers was at fault for both PSG goals, while right-back Walker-Peters was caught high up the pitch for Javier Pastore's second.

Asked about Walker-Peters' chances of replacing his nearly-namesake Kyle Walker, Pochettino said: "I think we have a few games to give a chance to not only him, but a few young players. It's up to them to step up and take the opportunity. I'm happy today. Always it's difficult to play a game like we played today.

"Always it's difficult for the younger ones. Everybody knows that they are judged and that pressure is difficult but I think they managed it very well. OK, maybe some mistakes, but it's about learning, for the young ones to learn. They are working very hard and only time to try to show they can battle."

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