Cup king Townsend targets league start

Andros Townsend is ready to stake his claim for a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side starting with tonight’s north London derby.

The 23-year-old England winger missed the World Cup having undergone ankle surgery at the end of last season and is now facing stiff competition to regain a berth in the starting 11, but he is determined to be involved against Arsenal.

Townsend has yet to start a league game under Pochettino but has featured in two Europa League matches and was the star turn as Spurs came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the third round of the Capital One Cup in midweek.