Restless Pochettino holds key to Spurs progress

A return to White Hart Lane — the target is now the meeting with Manchester United on January 13 — is clearly an important staging post in Tottenham’s development and will give everyone connected with the club a lift.

Pochettino, though, knows he will then discover the extent to which the investment in a new stadium impacts on the club’s ability to bring in new players.

As a manager in demand, Pochettino will inevitably evaluate his position and determine whether his prospects are better served elsewhere.

Particularly if Real Madrid firm up their interest.

He will also believe, however, that there is much more to come from his existing squad, while the new stadium offers the chance write the next chapter in Spurs’ history.