Mauricio Pochettino: Training with Tottenham 'teacher' Harry Kane is better than a loan for Kazaiah Sterling

Kazaiah Sterling has been tipped to reach the top at Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
Tom Collomosse10 March 2017

Mauricio Pochettino has no interest in sending his best young Tottenham players on loan when they can learn from stars like Harry Kane.

Before Pochettino took over as Spurs boss in May 2014, the club’s policy had long been to encourage promising players to gain first-team experience at other clubs.

Kyle Walker and Danny Rose also had loan stints elsewhere, as did former Spurs players like Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll and Ryan Mason.

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But under Pochettino, players with the greatest potential, such as Harry Winks, are invited to work from an early age with the first-team squad at Tottenham’s Hotspur Way training ground.

Pochettino said: “You need to respect every single opinion but nowadays it is not so important for young players to move.

“I prefer to have our young players here and offer them the chance to be first-team players than send them out on loan.

"If you give those players the opportunity to train with the senior squad, it is an even better experience.”

Winks, Josh Onomah, Kyle Walker-Peters and Cameron Carter-Vickers are four players who have trained regularly with the senior squad since last season.

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Pochettino indicated strongly that the next player to join the fold would be Kazaiah Sterling, an 18-year-old striker who is highly regarded at the club.

Pochettino explained: “One example is Kazaiah Sterling. Next season he will be here and it means every day there is a young striker training with Harry Kane. There is no better teacher to learn from.

“Where else would be send him? It would be a completely different philosophy. For players who do not have the chance to train every day with the first team, it is good to grow up in another place and come back.

“But here we try to provide the facility to train with the first team for any player who can cope with the pressure.”

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