Tottenham are sweating on the fitness of Dele Alli and Harry Winks ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Man City on Wednesday.
Spurs hope Alli, who broke his hand in the first leg last week, can play with a protective cast but Pochettino said after Saturday’s 4-0 win against Huddersfield that he did not know whether he would be available.
Winks felt his groin in training last Friday and was not in the squad against Huddersfield.
Both players are being assessed and the bigger concern is Winks. He was man of the match in the first leg, in what was his first start since returning from a groin problem.
His ability to keep the ball under pressure could be crucial for Spurs at the Etihad, when they look to defend their 1-0 first leg lead, and he would be a big miss.
Tottenham will be without Harry Kane on Wednesday because of his ankle ligament damage but Lucas Moura’s hat-trick against Huddersfield was a good sign they can cope without him. Pochettino must decide whether to use his pace alongside Heung-min Son against City or play Fernando Llorente to hold the ball up and help get Spurs up the pitch.
Son was rested until the 87th minute against Huddersfield so he will be fresh on Wednesday. Pochettino also left Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose on the bench.
Tottenham will travel to Manchester on Tuesday and the squad will train at the Etihad in the evening.
(Evening Standard)