Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino calm over Vincent Janssen scoring record

LONDON -- Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said Vincent Janssen is under "massive pressure" to score while Harry Kane is injured, but insists the Netherlands international remains relaxed.

Janssen, 22, is Spurs' only recognised centre-forward while Kane is sidelined with an ankle injury but he is yet to hit the back of the net from open play in 14 appearances for the club.

He scored his second penalty for Spurs in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth-round and, while Pochettino says the goal will boost his confidence, the manager admits Janssen is under pressure to perform.

"The expectation always was to share with another striker, Harry Kane, that's true," Pochettino said. "It's also true that the pressure today because of Harry's injury is massive. But he is calm, we are calm. We are people that we don't add more pressure to him. He will score, from open play it's difficult but he's scored two penalties, and the penalty against Liverpool will be good for him to build his confidence."

Asked if he had expected more from the £17 million summer signing from AZ Alkmaar, Pochettino said: "No, no. I'm very happy with him. When we signed him, we knew it'd be tough for him to adapt his game to Premier League and the team. He's still very young.

"When you compare with other players who arrive in the Premier League, or different leagues, it's always tough for them to adapt. He's settled well, he works very hard. It's about time that he will score."

Reports in Spain this week claimed Spurs could be among the clubs interested in Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero if he is made available but Pochettino laughed off the rumour, saying: "Not true ... 100 percent not true."

Kane has been sidelined since being stretchered off after scoring in the 1-0 win over Sunderland on Sept. 18 but Pochettino ruled the England striker out of Saturday's visit of Leicester City, although said he could be fit to face Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday or Arsenal on Sunday.

Janssen or Son Heung-Min, the South Korea forward, will start up-front against the Premier League champions.

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