Pochettino upbeat over Rose’s fitness concerns

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is upbeat over Danny Rose’s fitness prospects and dismissed suggestions the England full-back’s knee injury will result in a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Rose sustained the problem during last week’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland and some reports claimed Spurs feared he could spend around two months on the sidelines.
The 26-year-old’s visit to a specialist appears to have returned a more positive diagnosis, although Pochettino would not be completely drawn on the prospect of Rose being back by the end of February.

I’m not a doctor but he’s happy, Pochettino said at a news conference to preview Saturday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
“We are happy after he saw the specialist. It is not a big issue. It is a minor problem, a small problem.

We hope that as soon as possible he will be available again.
I think there are too many rumours and you need to be patient when the players are out.
“We cannot control the media or the internet like this. The most important thing is he is very optimistic, we are optimistic with him. We are happy and you will see what happens in time.”
Spurs are the nearest challengers to runaway leaders Chelsea, with Antonio Conte’s men nine points clear in the Premier League title race.

Four points separate Pochettino’s men from sixth-place Manchester United and he feels others challengers can still emerge from a chasing pack that includes Liverpool in fifth.