Huddersfield v Spurs - Mauricio's preview

Mauricio Pochettino believes a disciplined display at the back can give us the platform to win at basement side Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The Terriers have found life difficult at the start of their second season in the Premier League and are propping up the standings with two points from six games ahead of our trip to the John Smith’s Stadium (3pm).

But Mauricio has warned against complacency when it comes to taking on a side with only three league goals to their name so far this term, insisting their need to move up the standings makes them a more dangerous proposition.

“Of course, it’s so important to be focused,” the manager told Spurs TV. “We have conceded a lot of goals in the last few games and I think we need to improve on being focused, more vigilant and concentrate in defensive situations.

“We don’t think that the opponents have scored or not scored in the last few games – to try to do our job is the most important and to perform in the best way.

“We know very well that it’s going to be a tough game against a tough team. Of course, they need to start to take points and it makes them more dangerous in this type of situation.

“Every Premier League game is so important, so difficult, and it will be such a tough game. It’s important to recover after the big effort in the Carabao Cup against Watford and be ready to compete again. The most important thing is how we are going to arrive on Saturday in the condition that we want.”

After suffering consecutive defeats against Watford, Liverpool and Inter in the Champions League earlier this month, we secured a vital win at Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend and followed that up with the triumph on penalties over the Hornets that Mauricio alluded to in midweek.

Now, the boss wants us to maintain that winning feeling: “Of course, it’s so important to keep with the same spirit, in the same way, and keep improving,” he said. “It’s so important to build a positive run again. We have ahead three games before the international break with Huddersfield, Barcelona and Cardiff – they’re important games and we are so focused on trying to win the three games.”

Asked how much of a blow it will be to be without the services of midfielder Christian Eriksen at Huddersfield – and for an update on our injured goalkeepers – Mauricio said: “Christian has a small problem in his abdomen but be sure that he is going to be with the team and available as soon as possible. It’s not a thing that worries me.

“Michel Vorm is going to be out and then we need to assess Hugo Lloris if he can be available for Saturday or if we need to wait.”