LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino laughed off suggestions that Vincent Janssen is struggling to settle in English football, and says he is happy with the striker.
Janssen has featured in all 12 of Spurs' matches this season, starting six, but he is still yet to score from open play and his only goal was a penalty in the 5-0 win over Gillingham in the EFL Cup.
The £17 million summer signing from AZ Alkmaar was replaced around the hour mark for a second consecutive Champions League match during Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen, and Pochettino must decide whether to keep faith in him or play Son Heung-Min as an auxiliary striker at Bournemouth on Saturday.
"I laugh because we need to give young players time," Pochettino told a news conference. "He's come from Holland and always those players from outside need time. He is a striker that brings different characteristics to the team but I am happy with his behaviour, professionalism, how he is playing.
"It is true we and he would be happier if he was scoring but it's a normal process. He's always focusing, trying to improve, work hard and that is the better way to start scoring. He only needs time. It always happens in football, there are a lot of examples in football.
"A similar period happened with Harry [Kane] and with Janssen it's the same. He's settled in the team. He is a very good professional, he works hard every day to try to score and fix it and play well. I am happy with him.
"Only it's a natural process he needs to follow. But it's not a problem. He is a good player. He was the top scorer in Holland and there are no doubts about his qualities."
Janssen was unlucky not to score at the BayArena, where he had a goal ruled out because Son was marginally offside before he hit the crossbar with a thumping header.
Pochettino urged the 22-year-old to stay calm ahead of the Premier League match at Dean Court.
"He is not frustrated, he is disappointed as the strikers like to score. Always it is incomplete -- if you play well but you don't score, something is always missing.
"But he is happy. He wants to show he has the quality to score and maybe he puts a lot of pressure on himself -- 'I need to score, I need to score' -- and in the end, we need to calm him, say 'yes, good, don't worry, work hard, keep going and you will ensure you will score.'"