Andropped Townsend

Tottenham’s Andros Townsend has been left out of Thursday’s Europa League tie with Anderlecht after clashing with Spurs fitness coach Nathan Gardiner.

Townsend, 24, was an unused substitute in Monday’s win over Aston Villa and was pictured pushing and arguing with Gardiner on the pitch after the game.

“He did not train with the group. He is not available to be selected,” Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said.

“It’s because of Monday. If you behave the wrong way you always need to pay.”

Townsend has yet to start in the Premier League this term and Pochettino preferred to bring on Ryan Mason and 18-year-old Josh Onomah in the second half against Villa.

“It’s always my decision when he is available again to be part of the squad.

“Discipline for me is very important. I can understand the player – we have a young squad and a player can make a mistake – but when you cross the limit it is important to stop that.

“Has he apologised? Yes, he recognised it was a mistake,” Pochettino added.

“I can understand because I was a player and when you don’t play you’re unhappy and sometimes your expectation is bigger than the manager provides you.

“But it was not normal behaviour. He is young and you need to understand that it isn’t the way to impress the manager.”

Pochettino stressed that Townsend, who progressed through the Spurs academy and made his first-team debut in 2011, does still have a future at White Hart Lane.

“All players have a future. It’s up to them to have a future here. Football can change quick,” he said.

“He is in the squad because we believe in him and believe he can give us very good things, but it is up to the player when he has the chance to impress me and show I am wrong in my decision.”

Editor’s Note: Well that’s pretty much ended his Tottenham career, be it a loan deal with a view to a permanent signature or an outright signing in the New Year. I would be very surprised if Townsend features for Tottenham again. Will we miss him? on ours and his fleeting performances this season I would say not really.

Also with the Euro’s coming up next Summer, I expect Townsend will be wanting to move anyway to guarantee first team football and boost his fading chances of selection. Although a favourite of Roy Hodgson’s the lack of game time will be a concern for both parties and the above spat with Mauricio Pochettino is not going to help that in the short term therefore an exit out of White Hart Lane come January may be the best for all concerned.

If Townsend is to leave that could free up funds and a squad place for someone like Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie who we were often linked with in the Summer. But that’s me getting ahead of myself and Palace would probably be looking for about £20m and I doubt they will be willing to sell their wing wizard Mid-Season. But it’s certainly looks like the (Towns)End for Andros in a Tottenham shirt.