Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend looking to return to winning ways, having suffered a late defeat at Liverpool the last time out.
Pochettino’s side also struggled to a 1-1 home draw against Fiorentina in the first leg of their Europa League last 32 clash.
Sunday’s clash with West Ham gives them the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways however, with the London derby one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the season amongst supporters of both sides.
The Hammers recorded a treble over Tottenham last season, recording a 3-0 win at White Hart Lane in the league, a 2-1 win at the same venue in the Capital One Cup, and a 2-0 victory at Upton Park on the penultimate day of the season.
Tottenham exacted some sort of revenge courtesy of a last minute winner from Eric Dier on the opening weekend of this campaign. And since then, Spurs fans have found a new hero to worship in the form of 23 goal striker Harry Kane, who will be looking to continue his fantastic goal record against the Hammers on Sunday.
A product of the Tottenham youth system, Kane has been a revelation under Pochettino this season. Here we have identified five more youngsters who could end up following in his footsteps next term.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Mauricio Pochettino to reveal 5 Tottenham kids to breakthrough into the first team in 2015/16
[/ffc-gallery]
Tom Carroll
22-year-old midfielder Tom Carroll is perhaps considered the most exciting prospect on the club’s books.
He is currently on loan at Swansea City, although he hasn’t enjoyed as much first team football as perhaps he would have liked, with 17 appearances this season – many of which have come in the cup competitions.
But with the likes of Etienne Capoue and Moussa Dembele being consistently linked with a move away, Carroll could well be set for a first team chance next season, despite Swansea being keen to sign him on a permanent deal.
He has already made seven appearances for the Spurs first team with five starts coming in the Europa League.
A skilful, passing midfielder, Carroll will also be boosted by the opportunities given to Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb in the centre of Tottenham’s midfield this season.
Shaquile Coulthirst
With Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado struggling so far this season, a strikers’ position at White Hart Lane could well be opening up shortly.
Twenty-year-old Shaquile Coulthirst has scored consistently at Under-21 level for Tottenham and made first team appearances in the Europa League last season.
Also an England Under-19 international, Coulthirst is on loan at League Two Southend United this season where he is enjoying a good run of first team football, although he has scored just four goals in 20 league appearances for the Shrimpers so far.
Harry Winks
The highly-rated teenage midfielder agreed his first professional contract with Tottenham last summer and has since impressed for the Under-21 side.
He made the Tottenham bench for matches against West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool and Benfica last season.
He is highly thought of at Spurs having come through the youth system and established himself as a regular in the England Under-18 side.
With Tottenham boasting a new local hero named Harry already, Winks will be hoping he can line up alongside Kane in the near future.
Milos Veljkovic
Big things are expected of the 19-year-old Serb who is capable of playing at both centre back and holding midfield.
Veljkovic made 17 starts for Spurs’ Under-21 side last season and also captained the team.
He featured in all eight of Tottenham’s NextGen matches and has also been capped for Serbia at Under-17,
18 and 19 levels.
The powerful defender spent the first half of the season on loan at Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough, however he only managed five appearances. He joined Charlton in January and will remain at the Valley for the remainder of the season in the hope of showing what he can do.
Alex Pritchard
The 21-year-old is another exciting midfielder that Tottenham have sent on loan for the season in order to gain first team experience.
Pritchard is on loan with Brentford having spent the last campaign at Swindon Town. He has been impressive in the Championship so far, managing 31 appearances and six goals.
He has appeared for his country at two Under-20 World Cups and was called into the first team squad for a Europa League tie in 2011 although he is still awaiting his first team debut.
He has been one of the standout players for the Tottenham youth and Under-21 sides however and big things are expected of him for the future, whilst his performances in the Championship this season will have given him major confidence heading towards next season.
