West Ham vs Tottenham: Dele Alli is a doubt but Mousa Dembele, Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen out

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says Dele Alli is a doubt for the trip to West Ham on Wednesday (2 March) after the young midfielder suffered an injury problem during the weekend victory over Swansea. The Argentinian manager, meanwhile, has welcomed the return of Tom Carroll but confirmed that Mousa Dembele, Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen will remain on the sidelines, with the former in line to be ready to return to action in the North London derby against Arsenal on Saturday (5 March).

Pochettino used Alli for the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 comeback victory over the Welsh side despite the midfielder appeared to suffer a knock in the warm-up when he kicked the ground during shooting practice. The manager, however, doesn't want to take any risks with the 19-year-old midfielder and has claimed that he will need to undergo a late fitness check to determine whether he can play against the Hammers.

"Dele Alli had a problem before the Swansea game," Pochettino said in the press conference ahead of the trip to West Ham as quoted by Tottenham and Wood Green Journal. "We need to assess him tomorrow morning because it's a long day until the game against West Ham, and then we'll decide if he's available."

If the test are negative and the youngster misses the trip to West Ham, Alli will probably face a race to be fit for the crucial derby against Arsenal as it will come just three days later. The same, meanwhile, could be said for Dembele as Pochettino revealed that the Belgium midfielder is nearing his recovery and could be back available for the game with the Gunners. The former Fulham midfielder, nevertheless, will remain on the sidelines against West Ham alongside long-term absentees Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen.

"Mousa is nearly back, maybe for the next game [against Arsenal]. He's still out, Dembele, and you know Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen are still out."

In a more positive news, the Spurs manager confirmed that Carroll is back available for Upton Park after the midfielder missed the last three games, following the ankle injury he sustained in the firs-leg of the the Europe League victory over Fiorentina.

"It's good news that Tom Carroll can be on the list after he got injured against Fiorentina in the Europa League."