Mauricio Pochettino: 'Danny Rose still not ready to start'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has praised Danny Rose for the 'fantastic attitude' he has shown during his spell on the sidelines, but insists that the full-back is still not fit enough to start.

Rose came on for the final 10 minutes of the Lilywhites' 1-1 draw away to Real Madrid on Tuesday night - his first taste of competitive senior action since January 31.

Following close to nine months out while recovering from a troublesome knee injury, Pochettino believes that the England international is not yet ready to play a full part against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

"He is happy, his behaviour is fantastic. You could see he helped the team in the final few minutes against Real Madrid," he told reporters. "He is not ready to start because he still needs to build up his fitness. But we are so happy because he is doing very well and the possibility to be on the bench on Tuesday was important for the team.

"To feel like you are involved again is so important after 10 months out. Now it's the process to build up and try to get better every day. Then we will see on Wednesday if there is a possibility for him to be in the starting XI [against West Ham in the League Cup]."

Rose controversially criticised the club's transfer dealings during the summer, but Pochettino claims that it has all been dealt with.

"His mind is clear that what happened is in the past and we need to move on. He is part of my plans. The past is in the past," he added. "In life they are young and they can [make] mistakes but the most important thing is that they can learn from that.

"Fans want the best for the team and Danny is our player. Our fans are fantastic and they show good love and that they care for our players. He has four years left on his contract."

Ben Davies, absent for the last two games through illness, is expected to be given the nod to start against Liverpool after returning to training.