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Harry Winks lifts lid on Tottenham training sessions; calls one drill a killer

Aston Villa's Albert Adomah in action with Tottenham's Harry Winks (REUTERS)
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is renowned for pushing his players to the limit.

During an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Spurs youngster Harry Winks lifted the lid on the intense training sessions orchestrated by Mauricio Pochettino, describing one fitness drill in particular as a killer.

The 20-year-old has been fully integrated into the Tottenham first-team squad this season by the Argentine, and has impressed whenever he has been called upon.

And he sat down for an exclusive interview with the Guardian, and explained how Pochettino puts the Spurs players through their paces during training, highlighting one drill in, known as the Gacon test (a bleep-test type drill), as particularly painstaking:

Tottenham's Dele Alli celebrates scoring their first goal with Harry WinksTottenham’s Dele Alli celebrates with Harry Winks

“It’s an absolute killer. Yet he was one of the last men standing. I really pushed myself to the limit. And the one thing the manager loves is fitness and that mental side.”

The main challenge for Tottenham for the remainder of the season will be to keep up their high levels of intensity.

Tottenham's Harry Winks in action with Gillingham's Josh WrightTottenham’s Harry Winks in action

Pochettino has been criticised in the past for running his players into the ground, leaving his squad bereft of energy when they enter the business end of the season.

The Spurs squad is one of the youngest in the league, however, and arguably the fittest, so if they can maintain their levels, they have every chance of pushing Chelsea all the way in the race for the Premier League title.