Tottenham team news: January signing Moura unlikely to face Liverpool

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has conceded deadline day signing Lucas Moura is unlikely to be ready in time to make his debut in Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.

Moura was Tottenham’s only January addition after signing from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in a deal worth a reported £25m.

The 25-year-old was heavily linked with moves to Manchester United and Arsenal last month before eventually joining Tottenham but he hasn’t started a competitive match since the end of last season.

Moura’s arrival has sparked plenty of excitement among Tottenham fans, but Pochettino has moved to temper expectations and warn it may take some time before the Brazil international gets up to speed.

“Will he play on Sunday? I don’t believe it will be possible,” The Independent quote Pochettino as saying on Friday. “Six or seven months with no play, it is difficult. Like when you are injured, and it is not easy to reach the same level of the group.

“We signed a player that is not playing at PSG. We signed a player who has not competed for six or seven months. Of course for our fans it is an exciting name. And he came from a big club. But it is different to if you sign Neymar, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“My expectation is that the player can help us. But we cannot put too much pressure on him. He needs to adapt, he needs to know the Premier League, the philosophy of the new team, and there are plenty of examples here at the club – Son, Sissoko, Lamela – that they need time.

“A lot of players with a lot of quality struggled to adapt themselves in six months. It is not a signing that if he doesn't score goals from the beginning, it is a mistake. That is why we need to be calm.”

Moura’s arrival certainly bolsters Tottenham’s offensive options and means Pochettino can finally call upon a genuine winger.

Pochettino’s current options are all very similar but Moura will provide them with a different threat.

In fact, only Florian Thauvin (277) has completed more dribbles than Moura (264) in Ligue 1 since August 2013.