Mauricio Pochettino: 'Tottenham Hotspur youngsters must step up'

Mauricio Pochettino has promised Tottenham Hotspur's youngsters that they will be given a chance to stake their claim for a first-team place next season.

The former Espanyol and Southampton boss claimed earlier this week that he is "calm" over his side's lack of new arrivals this summer, as he fully trusts the younger members of the squad to step up when called upon.

Pochettino has stuck true to his word by giving numerous academy graduates their Tottenham breakthrough over the past few years, including England Under-20s internationals Joshua Onomah, Kyle Walker-Peters and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

All three featured in the 4-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the early hours of Sunday morning and, asked if Walkers-Peters in particular now has a chance of replacing near-namesake Kyle Walker in the side, Pochettino insisted that there is a clear path to the first team.

"I think we have a few games to give a chance to not only him, but a few young players," he told reporters. "It's up to them to step up and take the opportunity. I'm happy today. Always it's difficult to play a game like we played today.

"Always it's difficult for the younger ones. Everybody knows that they are judged and that pressure is difficult but I think they managed it very well. OK, maybe some mistakes, but it's about learning, for the young ones to learn. They are working very hard and only time to try to show they can battle."

Central defender Carter-Vickers was at fault for both of PSG's goals in the friendly match, while Walkers-Peters was also caught out of position for the second.