Mauricio Pochettino dampens speculation Danny Rose could leave Tottenham amid calendar rumours
The Spurs manager was speaking ahead of Tottenham's game against Bournemouth
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has played down speculation that Danny Rose could be on the verge of leaving the club, explaining that the full-back’s absence from the club’s 2018 calendar has nothing to do with Rose’s future.
Rose has not played since sustaining a medial knee ligament injury on 31 January, for which he had surgery on 16 May, and has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the club.
And the rumour mill went into overdrive when Rose gave a controversial interview in August, criticising Tottenham's wage structure and transfer policy, amid serious interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.
Spurs refused to sell him but the speculation grew when it was revealed the 27-year-old was not included as one of the players in the club’s official 2018 calendar.
But on Friday, speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s match against Bournemouth, Pochettino laughed off the speculation that the defender’s omission from the calendar meant that he was on his way out.
Pochettino told reporters: “He came to see me and said 'Gaffer, why aren't I on the calendar?' I said you were in Central Park. It's not a big issue.”
Rose was in the form of his life last season when he damaged the medial ligament in his left knee during Spurs' 0-0 draw at Sunderland on 31 January. Rose returned to training in April but did not feel that he could perform with his normal explosive power. So once Tottenham's season was over, on 16 May, he had an operation to clear up his left knee.
He returned to training for a second time this week and it is hoped he will be in contention to play some part in the north London derby on November 18.
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