Ryan Mason returns to Tottenham squad to face Anderlecht
Wednesday 21 October 2015 19:22, UK
Midfielder Ryan Mason is back in Tottenham's squad to face Anderlecht in the Europa League following a knee injury.
The 24-year-old has not featured since he was stretchered off after scoring the winner against Sunderland on September 13.
Mason is not expected to start in the Group J clash, while Nabil Bentaleb, Heung-Min Son, Tom Carroll, Nacer Chadli and Alex Pritchard all remain out and have not travelled to Belgium.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino told Sky Sports News HQ: "Mason is in the squad for tomorrow and maybe Sunday.
"Maybe he will not play many minutes but he is with us. Nabil Bentaleb is not in the squad but he is close, and so is Sonny and Tom Carroll. Pritchard is different."
Pochettino also confirmed he is considering resting striker Harry Kane after he picked up a knock in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool, despite the player travelling with the squad.
The England international has only scored once for Spurs this season but remains central to his manager's plans, meaning he could sit out the game in Brussels or start on the bench in a bid to protect him.
"Yes maybe," Pochettino said when asked if he was thinking of resting Kane, with summer signing Clinton Njie his likely replacement.
"Njie and Kane (are) today available. We need to assess because at the end of the game against Liverpool, Harry had a small problem. He had a knock, not an injury.
"It is possible he will start on the bench, as normal we need to manage in a good way and assess and analyse every little detail. The player always wants to play. Afterwards I decide if the player is wrong."
Chadli was ruled out for as many as six weeks on Tuesday after damaging ankle ligaments in the home draw against Liverpool on Saturday, but Pochettino says it is now a chance for another player to step up.
"It is very disappointing for us and the player and we hope that it goes well and maybe in six weeks Chadli will come back," added the Spurs head coach.
"But it is always a place for another player to have an opportunity, maybe Clinton N'Jie or Andros Townsend, to break in. We have a strong squad, they are young, but they are ready to compete."
Spurs are currently top of the Europa League group having beaten Qarabag 3-1 at White Hart Lane and then drawn with Monaco 1-1 in the French principality.
Pochettino said: "It's a very different group. Monaco and Anderlecht have the names but Qarabag are a good team.
"It's a very important game and we need the three points tomorrow. We have to compete to try to get to the next stage of the competition."
