Tottenham to 'lean on' new signing Mathys Tel amid injury problems

It was 19-year-old France planetary Tel who replaced Richarlison successful the archetypal infinitesimal of first-half stoppage clip astatine Anfield to marque his Spurs debut, and helium could gain his archetypal commencement for his caller nine erstwhile they sojourn Aston Villa successful Sunday’s FA Cup 4th circular necktie astatine Villa Park.

Besides Tel, Tottenham besides signed goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague and centre-back Kevin Danso from Lens during the wintertime window. Kinsky signed permanently, portion Danso’s accomplishment is via a indebtedness with an work to buy.

“I don’t deliberation helium would person learned excessively much, [because] we surely didn’t play the mode we privation to,” Postecoglou said astir Tel’s debut erstwhile speaking connected Friday.

“So for himself and Kevin, successful galore respects it wasn’t an denotation of however we privation to spell astir things.

“But conscionable being retired there, playing your archetypal game, you get that retired of your system. We’re going to person to thin connected him [Tel] a just spot now.

“But helium came present to play. His carnal information is not excessively bad. He hasn’t played a batch but watching him successful grooming and past nighttime [against Liverpool], helium was inactive moving rather well.

“We person to beryllium cautious with him, also. But helium came present to play and he’ll get an accidental to bash that.”

Postecoglou handed uncommon appearances to academy players Mikey Moore, Dane Scarlett and Damola Ajayi successful past week’s 3-0 Europa League triumph implicit Elsborg, but helium has suggested helium is improbable to repetition that instrumentality against Villa.

“We’ve already got young players retired determination — there’s 18-year-olds, 19-year-olds, 17-year-olds retired there.

“It’s 1 happening to enactment them connected precocious successful a European crippled but, I’m not going to exposure young players to that benignant of [pressure]. I’m not going to exposure young players who I don't deliberation are acceptable for that.”