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Moussa Sissoko has revealed he needed three months to get used to Mauricio Pochettino’s intense style after his record £30million transfer from Newcastle.

The Deadline Day signing was dropped from the 18 against Chelsea and told by the Tottenham boss to raise his game.

But the France midfielder made his first Premier League start since October against Hull in midweek – and was given a standing ovation when he was subbed off with five minutes to go.

Sissoko admitted: “I found the intensity of the training difficult. The style of how he wants us to play. A lot of things. What we do at the training. It was a lot of change. Every manager has his style of training so now I understand everything.

“He is a physically demanding manager. That was a big change for me, because in my old team it was totally different.

(Image: Getty)

"For me, the manager said what he thinks. I needed to understand his philosophy, but now it is OK. I know what he wants, I know what to do — and that’s what I will do.”

Danny Rose reckons Tottenham are still in “third gear” this season and “only playing at 60 per cent”.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team stay in fifth place – 10 points behind leaders Chelsea – after the home win over Hull but have still only beaten one team in the top half of the Premier League this season.

Watch — Who is Spurs old boy Jermaine Jenas talking about here?

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And the England full-back said: “It’s fair to say we’re probably still in third gear compared to last season. We haven’t hit the heights of last season in how we’ve been playing. No idea why.

“We know that though and I think that’s a positive to take. We’re in the park still and we’re probably only playing 60 per cent. Hopefully once the New Year comes we can push on. We had a good December and January last season and we’re looking to do that again.”