Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says Kieran Trippier is struggling with his fitness due to England's World Cup campaign.

Trippier was withdrawn late during Spurs' 3-1 win over Southampton at Wembley on Wednesday night, clutching his groin, and Pochettino has linked it to Gareth Southgate's call to play him a final time in Russia.

“I think it's the same problem, the same problem that started in the World Cup," Pochettino said of the problem against Southampton.

“If you remember the semi-final against Croatia, when he left the pitch. Then I think to play after three days against Belgium, I think maybe it affected a little bit.

“Now he's suffering in that situation. In situations like today when the pitch is not in a good condition, this area, the groin, suffers more when the pitch is different. It's a thing that we need to care a lot for him, protect him, he needs to work a lot to protect and sort that problem. It will be a long period for him suffering this type of problem.

“When I was in Argentina as a 19-year-old I suffered and it is an area that is difficult to sort out. But I don't believe it's a big thing. It's only he needs to start to accept that situation and live with sometimes some pain and play."