Times pundit Tony Cascarino urges Mauricio Pochettino to completely oust one Spurs player

Add as preferred source on Google

Tony Cascarino has claimed in his Times column that Mauricio Pochettino needs to drop Christian Eriksen entirely from his Tottenham Hotspur squad, as the playmaker’s future is beginning to have a negative effect.

The 27-year-old playmaker continues to be linked with a move to the likes of Real Madrid, after entering the final 12 months of his contract at Tottenham. It remains to be seen if he will sign a new deal, or move on before September 2.

The Dane started the defeat to Newcastle on the bench as his future still looks to be away from north London. Pochettino is known to edge those in the final year of their contract out of the squad – Toby Alderweireld played just 14 times in the league during 2017-18.

Former Chelsea striker Cascarino has urged Pochettino to remove Eriksen from the 18-man squad entirely in order to get rid of the bad feeling, with the pundit of the belief that Eriksen’s current situation is affecting the squad.

“Christian Eriksen must be troubling for the squad,” Cascarino said. “If Pochettino thinks he’s really going to lose his star player, then keep him away from the squad. Having him on the bench sends the wrong message to his starting XI that they’re not good enough.

“I know he came off the bench to change the game against Aston Villa on the opening weekend but until his future is sorted Eriksen shouldn’t be around on match days, no matter how good he is.

“There is so much that doesn’t seem right at Spurs at the moment and Pochettino needs to get his group united for the north London derby this weekend.”

TBR’s view – Cascarino bang on, Eriksen should be banished

Tottenham need a squad that is together, pulling in the right direction. In recent years, they have finished in a close third place behind City and Liverpool because they have the family-like camaraderie – despite lacking in quality.

Having a member of that family who does not feel the way he used to, and wants out, is damaging. As Cascarino says, if he wants to leave – get him out of the matchday squad before it becomes more detrimental than just one defeat.