Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admits he does not know the best position for Mousa Dembele

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says midfielder Mousa Dembele is still in his plans, but admits he is unsure what the Belgium international's best position is.

Dembele, 28, arrived in the Premier League as a forward before dropping into a midfield role for Fulham. His performances in the centre of the park convinced Tottenham to bring the former AZ Alkmaar star to White Hart Lane in 2012.

The Belgian returned to a more advanced position under Pochettino last season, featuring as a number 10 early on in 2014/15, but eventually lost his place in the team, finishing the season with just two full 90 minute appearances for the club to his name.

Despite the player admitting he was uncertain over his future at the club in the summer, things have looked more positive in Tottenham's final season games, with Dembele starting in recent friendlies against MLS All-Stars and Real Madrid in an attacking role on the right.

And Pochettino remains determined to find a spot in his team that brings the best out of the Belgian.

"Yes, he's in my plans [for the season], Dembele," Pochettino told a press conference ahead of Tottenham's curtain raiser against Manchester United, London 24 reports.

"I think we need to try to provide him [with the help] to show his real quality here. It's true the last season was difficult for him, but not only was it difficult for him at Tottenham – with his national team too. It's for that reason we need to try to find the best position for him, to show the quality that he has."

Tottenham will travel up to Manchester on 8 August just a day after touching back down in London following their Audi Cup campaign in Munich. The club played matches against Real Madrid on Tuesday and AC Milan on Wednesday but Pochettino says he has no concerns over the tight schedule.

"Two games were not too much," he said. "We shared minutes in the squad. When you play AC Milan or Madrid you need to be focused and aware. It is like you have started the season a week before. The two games were a very good test for us."