Harry Winks already has reason to thank his more senior colleagues at Tottenham Hotspur for helping ease his way through the ranks at the club. Now, with the young midfielder playing an increasingly prominent role at White Hart Lane, Winks is confident those same players will ensure his development stays on track.

A boyhood Spurs fan and associated with the club since he was five, the 20-year-old has emerged as the latest young player to earn the support of Mauricio Pochettino, and it is clear the manager has plans for a player who made his league debut in August and who can expect to start in Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Aston Villa.

Winks’s progress this season has been impressive – his goal against West Ham on his full league debut marking a high point – but having been initially overawed when he was promoted into the first team squad, he knows he will not be allowed to get ahead of himself.

“The first year or so when I got in the squad it was a bit ‘wow, I am here’,” said the midfielder.