Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Tottenham are carefully managing Mousa Dembele’s game time following the midfielder’s foot surgery.
Dembele underwent a procedue in May in an attempt to solve a long-standing problem on the top of his left foot.
The Belgian is forced to play through pain, and Pochettino believes that is why he must be treated differently to other players in the squad.
“It is so important to manage him properly,” said the Spurs boss. [Quotes via ESPN.]
“We have a very good communication with the doctor, physio, sports science, coaching staff to try to help him. To help him is to help the team. He is such an important player for us.
“I think it is so important to manage properly, it is the key to keeping him fit and to providing all the quality that he has to the team. The communication is important and we have very good communication.
“He is a player who I have told you many, many times that, for me, he is one of the geniuses that I have met in football. Always he is so important and he shares the decision. That relationship is important to help him and if he feels well he helps the team.”
Dembele missed last weekend’s goalless draw with Swansea but played just over 80 minutes in the EFL Cup win over Barnsley on Tuesday.
Hopefully he will be deemed fit enough to start two games in the space of five days for the first time this season when Tottenham travel to West Ham this weekend.
