Pochettino praises Spurs youngsters

Mauricio Pochettino has paid tribute to Tottenham’s youngsters after Harry Kane and company led them to a fifth-placed finish in the Barclays Premier League.

Spurs sealed an automatic route to the Europa League group stages next term with a 1-0 victory at Everton on Sunday as Kane completed his memorable 2014-15 campaign with his 31st club goal.

The PFA’s Young Player of the Year has been one of a number of Tottenham youngsters to break through and flourish under Pochettino, who won admirers in his previous post at Southampton for developing the next generation.

Both Kane and Ryan Mason have been capped by England despite being on the fringes of the Spurs squad when Pochettino arrived at White Hart Lane last summer and the likes of Nabil Bentaleb, a makeshift left-back at Goodison Park, and Eric Dier, who provided the assist for Kane’s goal, have also been integral parts of the first team.

Kane has taken the majority of the plaudits as he equalled a club record with 21 Premier League goals for the term, but Pochettino was quick to recognise the other talents who have emerged under his watch.

“It is a fantastic season for Harry,” Pochettino said of Kane, whose personal goal tally had been previously reached by Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham and Gareth Bale.

“I’m to congratulate him but all of the players because the effort during our season was fantastic. I’m happy, happy for Harry because it’s an important thing for the club.

“But I’m happy for the youngsters too because it was a season for Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason, Eric Dier – they are very, very young and they deserve all of the praise today.

“I’m very pleased for them, our group is very young and I’m very happy with our season.”