Mauricio Pochettino has said that he is extremely happy with the condition of his returning World Cup players ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's season opener against Newcastle United.
The Lilywhites had nine players involved in the latter stages of the competition - more than any other top-flight side - and did not welcome them back to pre-season training until Monday.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld and Hugo Lloris are all considered doubtful for Saturday lunchtime's meeting with Newcastle, but Pochettino has no complaints about their fitness.
"I am so happy in the way they come back to training on Monday. I am really, really, really, really, really happy," he told reporters at his pre-match press conference. "I am so proud about them because they were very focused on trying to arrive in a very good condition.
"Of course the circumstances are completely different from each other, and the profiles of the players are completely different. Some need more time to get fit than others. That's normal. Some players will be fit to start the game.
"Some will be fit to be on the bench. Maybe some players will stay here to try to reach the level, to give more time, for different reasons - because maybe we don't want to take risks, because they need more preparation, because the background or history of their injuries is different.
"That is why for us it's so important for us to be right in our judgement now and take the best decision and then to provide the team a very good balance to try to be competitive against Newcastle. We're going to be competitive. I promise you I'm so happy in the way everyone came back, so focused, so happy to join us again."
Tottenham made history by failing to sign a single player during the summer transfer window, which closed on Thursday evening.
Daniel Lewis
