Pochettino needs to take Fulham clash seriously

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face London rivals Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday, with the Premier League outfit suffering from fixture congestion currently.

The trip to Craven Cottage falls between home and away clashes with Gent in the Europa League, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to manage his squad through a busy period.

While a strong side was fielded in Belgium on Thursday night, the possible suggestion is that the Spurs boss will not risk his bigger guns against the Championship outfit.

Although a top-four finish remains the priority for Tottenham this season, the potential for winning silverware must not be ignored.

Growing up as a Spurs fan I still fondly remember our FA Cup success in 1991 and the League Cup in 2008 – but the wait has been two long for our next piece of silverware.

Although qualifying for the Champions League is rightly the be-all and end-all, if this could be backed up with a cup final victory it would be a really positive campaign.

Playing in Europe’s top tournament is so important – but Pochettino would be advised to throw his efforts into winning the FA Cup also.

Most Spurs fans would agree that the Argentine is doing a good job at White Hart Lane – but there is only so long that playing at a high level without winning a trophy can be accepted.