Nabil Bentaleb Out of Tottenham's Europa League Tie Against Asteras Tripolis

Nabil Bentaleb will miss Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League group match against Asteras Tripolis on Thursday 23 October with an ankle injury, manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed.

The 19-year-old midfielder featured in both of Algeria's African Cup of Nations play-off matches against Malawi but missed the weekend defeat to Manchester City and was also absent for the win over Southampton prior to the international break.

Along with Bentaleb, Pochettino also revealed Tottenham defenders Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton remain out with respective pelvic and ankle problems.

"Nabil is injured and we hope he recovers as soon as possible," Pochettino said. "After that there is Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton and it is the same situation as before."

The Spurs boss will likely have to call upon Belgian Jan Vertonghen for the Europa League match after the defender was left out from the start in Tottenham's 4-1 loss to City on Saturday 18 October.

Vertonghen's contract expires in 2016 and having made just four starts in the league this season, rumours abound regarding a rift between the player and Pochettino but the Argentine has rejected such claims.

"Jan is an important player for Tottenham and for us," the Spurs manager said.

"But [there are] a lot of rumours and information and different situations, and for me it's easy because I don't read it. Never.

"I know the players are sometimes affected by comment or rumours and they call me about the rumours but Jan is a very important player for Tottenham and for me.

"After the Arsenal and Southampton games, we had the international break. Younes Kaboul and Federico Fazio worked very hard here [during that] and are fresh. I gave them the opportunity to play but I haven't changed my view on Jan.

"For me, he is a very good player and he is a key player for us. I never hear from Jan that he wants to leave or change something.

"After it is impossible to hear or to trust in other people around him because for me it is important when we have a chat inside my office that Jan never told me he wants to leave the club.

"I have trust in my player and Jan never told me about that. He is happy at Tottenham. Maybe sometimes he wants to play more but my decision is to take a decision. He is happy and I'm happy with him."