Ditch two new boys? Very good reason why Tottenham owe them an extra year

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Tottenham owe Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou another season.

Mauricio Pochettino is one of the most highly regarded managers in the Premier League, popular with his players, but he also has a ruthless side.

The Argentine had no problem axing big characters from the squad since his arrival, including the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul and Aaron Lennon.

He has also proved he is more than willing to write off his own signings if they are not up to the task, with Benjamin Stambouli sold after just one year, and Federico Fazio cast aside just like Clinton N’Jie following disappointing debut seasons.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino

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Tottenham’s summer signings, with the exception of Victor Wanyama, have failed to hit form, and you could forgive them for being worried about whether they will earn a place in the squad for next season.

It would not be a surprise to see Tottenham sell the disappointing Moussa Sissoko, who does not look a good fit for the team so far, nor Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, who could get the N’Jie treatment of being sent out on loan.

Yet there is a good reason why the pair should get one more year – they missed out on pre-season this year, and Pochettino’s notoriously tough regime.

Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko in action with Wycombe Wanderers’ Dominic Gape

Tottenham’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou in action with Wycombe Wanderers’ Sido Jombati

This put both on a backwards curve heading into the season, with the duo only clinching their moves on deadline day, and not training elsewhere, with N’Koudou injured and in London for a month ahead of his switch, and Sissoko resting after his Euro 2016 exploits.

Spurs owe it to the pair, and themselves after considerable investment, to see not only if they can kick on during the second half of this season, but if they can make a step up next year with a pre-season behind them.

Vincent Janssen joined up in mid-July and has less of an excuse, and he could become the player most at risk of the axe if he does not improve, even though he is the player Spurs arguably have the highest hopes for.