Mousa Dembele credits Tottenham's new-found strength in depth for their improvement this season

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Mousa Dembele believes Tottenham have gone up a level year on year for the last three seasons and credits their new-found strength in depth for the improvement.

Mauricio Pochettino has experienced a series of injuries to key players from last season already, with the likes of Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama struggling for fitness, but Spurs have managed to march on regardless.

Dembele himself is on the way back from hip injury meaning Eric Dier and Harry Winks have had to pick up the slack in midfield but he believes this newfound ability to seamlessly switch personnel has seen them become one of the best teams in the Premier League and Manchester City’s closest challengers.

“Until now the last three years every year we became better,” he said. “We have a bigger squad with more competition for places and everyone is playing well, everyone can play.

“Even if there are 4-5 injuries, the other guys come in and play well. We can rotate, we have good players, so that’s why I think we are better than last year.

“Last year so many games we were up there mentally as well but we don’t give things away. Today was not good but the last games were very good.”

Dembele is hoping to boost the resources available to Pochettino soon with his return now in sight.

“I’m feeling much better. First it was my ankle and then I came back and it was my hip, so a bit of bad luck but I feel good. I started the season well but then with the injury it made it a bit…but I will be back.

“It’s much better than before. I worked hard, but it’s much better and I hope I will get to my level quickly. I have started training again and it’s no problem.”