Mauricio Pochettino has banished Andros Townsend from the first team after the winger’s clash with a fitness coach on Monday. Townsend was pictured pushing and arguing with the Spurs trainer Nathan Gardiner on the pitch at White Hart Lane following the team’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

The 24-year-old is yet to start a Premier League match this season and was an unused substitute against Villa, with Pochettino preferring to bring on Ryan Mason and the 18-year-old Josh Onomah in the second half.

Rémi Garde accepts need to wait to bring assistants to Aston Villa Read more

Townsend has since been excluded from first-team training and will not be part of the squad for Thursday night’s Europa League match at home to Anderlecht.

“He did not train with the group. He is not available to be selected tomorrow, he is not in the squad,” Pochettino said. “It’s because of Monday. When you behave in the wrong way you always need to pay. It’s always my decision when he is available again to be part of the squad.

“Discipline for me is very important. I can understand the player – we have a young squad and a player can make a mistake – but when you cross the limit it is important to stop that. As a manager I am very fair but the discipline is very important. The staff need to show respect to the player and the player needs to show respect to the staff.”

Townsend has apologised for the spat but is considering his future at Tottenham, where Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembélé, Érik Lamela and Nacer Chadli have moved ahead of him in the pecking order. A number of clubs showed an interest last summer and Townsend wants more regular football to be in contention for England’s Euro 2016 squad.

“Has he apologised? Yes, he recognised it was a mistake,” Pochettino said. “I can understand because I was a player and when you don’t play you’re unhappy and sometimes your expectation is bigger than the manager provides you.

“But it was not normal behaviour. He is young and you need to understand that it isn’t the way to impress the manager. He needs to learn about football, about behaviour, about discipline, about a lot of things. Football is not only about taking the ball in your feet and playing. You have a responsibility as a professional.”

Tony Adams reveals heart surgery in Azerbaijan saved his life Read more

Pochettino suggested the club had fined Townsend but insisted the player could still have a future at White Hart Lane. “All players have a future,” he said. “It’s up to them to have a future here. Football can change quick,” Pochettino said. “He is in the squad because we believe in him and believe he can give us very good things, but it is up to the player when he has the chance to impress me and show I am wrong in my decision. Has he been fined? It’s a private matter. I think it’s obvious. Your question and my answer.”

Tottenham are boosted by the return of the forward Son Heung-min against Anderlecht. He has been sidelined for almost six weeks with a foot problem and his recovery gives Pochettino the option of resting Harry Kane, with the north London derby against Arsenal to follow on Sunday.

“Son is ready and in the squad for tomorrow,” Pochettino said. “We need to decide whether he can start or be on the bench. He is much better and we are happy with the recovery.”

Nabil Bentaleb has also returned to training after two months out with an ankle problem but the midfielder is not yet match fit, and Clinton Njie is a doubt with a hamstring injury. Spurs are third in Group J, level on points with Anderlecht and one behind the leaders, Monaco, after three games.