Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 6y

Danny Rose set to start as Mauricio Pochettino rests players vs. West Ham

LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino will rotate his Tottenham Hotspur squad for Wednesday's Carabao Cup match against West Ham.

Danny Rose is set to start for the first time since January, and the manager says it is important to maintain momentum with another win.

Pochettino will rest a host of stars for the Hammers' visit to Wembley, including Harry Kane, but he is wary of squandering the impetus gained from the 1-1 draw at Real Madrid and the subsequent 4-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Spurs travel to Old Trafford on Saturday, level on points with second-place Manchester United, before Real come to Wembley for the return match of their Champions League group-stage tie.

Pochettino's changes on Wednesday will not include Erik Lamela, who has been sidelined for a year with hip problems, but Mousa Dembele could return from foot, ankle and hip injuries, having last played against Barnsley in the third round.

"We are resting players because they need to rest and we don't want to take risks," Pochettino said. "All the players available to play without risk tomorrow will play.

"We are forced to rest some players. We will play with fresh players who will compete tomorrow. It's a derby, we want to go to the next stage of the Carabao Cup.

"It's important to keep the momentum if we rotate and give opportunities to some players to play. That is so, so important because we have a busy schedule ahead and before the next international break, its impossible to stop. The players are not machines, they need rest, it's impossible be to 100 percent in every game.

"We play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday and ahead we have Real Madrid on Wednesday and Crystal Palace on [the following] Saturday. Then we have two weeks [off] but the players cannot rest because they are travelling, playing with the national team.

"They are not machines, I repeat. Our responsibility is to know when the important period is, to have the possibility to rest, to try to avoid the risk. To arrive at the end of the season fighting for different reasons."

Asked if Lamela could return against the Hammers a year to the day since he last played against Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth round, Pochettino said: "Erik is not on the list. He is doing well but not available. After nearly a year, I cannot say [he will be back] tomorrow, one week or one month. It's to do with his evolution. It's the same process as Danny Rose to try every day to get the feelings. When he is ready, I'll let you know about that.

"We need to be careful with him, careful with all players -- like Dembele, Rose. After a long period unavailable, it's so important, the component of psychology, only training, not competing is totally different. Now they need to be involved with care. It's a risk, but OK. Now they're doing well and we'll provide the opportunity to play when the moment is right."

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