Mauricio Pochettino ready to start Kyle Walker-Peters against Barcelona with Erik Lamela available

Walker-Peter is Tottenham's only fit right-back for Tuesday.
Getty Images
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP10 December 2018

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he has 'no doubts' about starting Kyle Walker-Peters in the crucial Champions League game at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

Spurs have travelled to Barcelona without right-backs Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier, who have suffered groin injuries in the last two games against Southampton and Leicester, respectively.

Walker-Peters, 21, replaced Aurier for the final 13 minutes of the 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Saturday but his only other appearance this season came in the League Cup win at West Ham back in October.

Spurs must match Inter Milan's result at home to PSV Eindhoven to reach the Champions League knockouts for the second consecutive season.

Walker-Peters signed a new contract until 2023 on Monday and Pochettino says he trusts him to start the biggest game of his career.

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Asked who would play at right-back, Pochettino said: "Kyle Walker-Peters will have the option to play. I remind you that he won the U-20 World Cup only a year ago in Korea.

"Playing at a place like this will make him strong and we have no doubts in him playing tomorrow. I'm so happy to have three players in this position with different qualities.

"I think Kyle has the qualities to play. He needs to feel free. He’s a very relaxed player and person. Whatever happens tomorrow we hope he will be a massive success for this club."

Lamela is another option to start.
Action Images via Reuters

Spurs will also be without injured stars Davinson Sanchez, Mousa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Juan Foyth tomorrow but Erik Lamela is fit again after missing two games with a thigh problem.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, meanwhile, has promised to rest players, including Luis Suarez, for the final group game, with the Catalonians already guaranteed to qualify in top spot.

Pochettino, who watched the highlights of his former club Espanyol's 4-0 defeat to Barca on Saturday, says any team the La Liga champions put out will be difficult to beat.

"We play against Barcelona," he said. "I’m not focused on their starting 11. Always the pressure is to win. You play not only to win games. You play for something special. Like us.

"We play for Tottenham. It’s not important the names. You know the quality in the squad is massive. Different names may have different qualities but they are going to be strong. It’s not my business. It’s Valverde who decides what’s best for the team. It should be the best motivation."

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