Tottenham are expected to activate a clause in Ryan Mason’s contract that will keep him at White Hart Lane until the summer of 2018.

The midfielder’s deal expires at the end of next season but contains an option for the club to extend it by two seasons.

Mason’s impressive form this term, in which he has climbed from the status of fringe player to become a first choice for head coach Mauricio Pochettino, means his long-term future is likely to be at Tottenham.

Should Mason continue his impressive displays, there is a strong chance chairman Daniel Levy would consider offering the 23‑year-old improved terms.

Mason is believed to be one of the lowest-paid members of the first‑team squad and Tottenham have demonstrated in the past they are willing to reward young players who prove they can be valuable to the senior side.

Harry Kane signed a new five-year contract at Spurs during the summer after ending the last campaign in impressive style. This season, Kane has nine goals in all competitions and has arguably been the club’s best outfield player.

Aston Villa v Tottenham - player ratings 26 show all Aston Villa v Tottenham - player ratings 1/26 Brad Guzan: 6 Had to be alert throughout with his defence offering him limited protection at times – saved very well from Adebayor when the Spurs striker was through on goal. GETTY 2/26 Matthew Lowton: 6 Impressive going forward as he provided a beautiful cross for Benteke early on and then almost scored himself as he snuck onto the end of a Sanchez cross – not so good defensively but partly due to a lack of support from N’Zogbia. GETTY 3/26 Ron Vlaar: 6 Allowed Spurs forwards to find too much space in between himself and Lowton and right-back, but did well to recover by blocking shots on a number of occasions. GETTY 4/26 Nathan Baker: 6 Looked a little vulnerable but had dealt with everything Tottenham threw at him until the final moments. GETTY 5/26 Aly Cissokho: 7 Hugely positive impact on the game going forward – twice set up Benteke with good chances as he surged up and down the left flank. GETTY 6/26 Ashley Westwood: 6 Workmanlike performance from Westwood – appeared to lose his composure a little bit as tempers flared during the second half. GETTY 7/26 Tom Cleverley: 6 A reasonable performance but he doesn’t stand out in this Villa side – will be very lucky to ever play for Manchester United again. GETTY 8/26 Carlos Sanchez: 7 Anchored the Villa midfield fantastically – always showing for the ball and distributing it well. GETTY 9/26 Charles Nzogbia: 7 Made the goal through a combination of determination and skill – typified his direct and fearless approach to the game. GETTY 10/26 Andreas Weimann: 6 He actually had a pretty quiet game but provided the all-important goal to end Villa’s scoring drought – took it well. GETTY 11/26 Christian Benteke.: 4 Played so well in the first half and looked close to his best but let his manager down when he got himself sent off after getting involved in an unnecessary confrontation with Ryan Mason. GETTY 12/26 Gabriel Agbonlahor: 5 Failed to make an impact after coming on for the final 15 minutes. GETTY 13/26 Hugo Lloris: 6 Helpless for the Villa goal and rarely called upon to make saves despite Villa having some decent chances. Getty 14/26 Kyle Naughton: 6 Did a solid job but unable to provide the same attacking impact he did against Brighton earlier in the week. GETTY 15/26 Younes Kaboul: 4 How the captain is keeping his place in the Spurs side is beyond me – he has been calamitous all season and today was no different. Bullied by Benteke and fluffed a great chance at the other end. GETTY 16/26 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Looks relatively assured alongside Kaboul but also struggled to deal with the physicality of Benteke. Getty 17/26 Danny Rose: 6 Will be disappointed he lost out to N’Zogbia in the build up to the Villa goal – aside from that offered a good outlet going forward on numerous occasions. Getty 18/26 Etienne Capoue: 5 Solid but unspectacular showing from the central midfielder – yet to show he is any better than the likes of Paulinho and Sandro who he has been chosen over by Mauricio Pochettino. Getty 19/26 Ryan Mason: 6 Good performance from the youngster but yet to show he has the quality to affect the game in the final third. GETTY 20/26 Nacer Chadli: 6 Sometimes isn’t direct enough when in good positions but did well to convert his big chance when it came – a well-placed volley which got his side level. GETTY 21/26 Christian Eriksen: 5 Failed to capitalise on some good situations in the opening stages and was withdrawn by his manager at half-time. Getty 22/26 Roberto Soldado: 6 Had some good moments – most notably when he put his strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor in on goal but still seems to be lacking confidence in front of goal. GETTY 23/26 Emmanuel Adebayor: 6 Played some nice passes through the Villa defence but missed his big chance when through one-on-one – interesting that he was withdrawn on the hour mark and not Roberto Soldado. GETTY 24/26 Harry Kane: 8 The boy wonder did the business again – he came off the bench and invigorated his side before getting a slightly fortuitous winner in the 90th minute as his free kick was deflected in. GETTY 25/26 Erik Lamela: 6 Gradually settling into life in the Premier League – looked a threat after coming on at half-time and provided the corner which Chadli equalised from. Getty 26/26 Andros Townsend: 7 Looked the most likely to make something happen as Spurs struggled to get back on level terms – won the free kick which Kane converted to secure victory. GETTY 1/26 Brad Guzan: 6 Had to be alert throughout with his defence offering him limited protection at times – saved very well from Adebayor when the Spurs striker was through on goal. GETTY 2/26 Matthew Lowton: 6 Impressive going forward as he provided a beautiful cross for Benteke early on and then almost scored himself as he snuck onto the end of a Sanchez cross – not so good defensively but partly due to a lack of support from N’Zogbia. GETTY 3/26 Ron Vlaar: 6 Allowed Spurs forwards to find too much space in between himself and Lowton and right-back, but did well to recover by blocking shots on a number of occasions. GETTY 4/26 Nathan Baker: 6 Looked a little vulnerable but had dealt with everything Tottenham threw at him until the final moments. GETTY 5/26 Aly Cissokho: 7 Hugely positive impact on the game going forward – twice set up Benteke with good chances as he surged up and down the left flank. GETTY 6/26 Ashley Westwood: 6 Workmanlike performance from Westwood – appeared to lose his composure a little bit as tempers flared during the second half. GETTY 7/26 Tom Cleverley: 6 A reasonable performance but he doesn’t stand out in this Villa side – will be very lucky to ever play for Manchester United again. GETTY 8/26 Carlos Sanchez: 7 Anchored the Villa midfield fantastically – always showing for the ball and distributing it well. GETTY 9/26 Charles Nzogbia: 7 Made the goal through a combination of determination and skill – typified his direct and fearless approach to the game. GETTY 10/26 Andreas Weimann: 6 He actually had a pretty quiet game but provided the all-important goal to end Villa’s scoring drought – took it well. GETTY 11/26 Christian Benteke.: 4 Played so well in the first half and looked close to his best but let his manager down when he got himself sent off after getting involved in an unnecessary confrontation with Ryan Mason. GETTY 12/26 Gabriel Agbonlahor: 5 Failed to make an impact after coming on for the final 15 minutes. GETTY 13/26 Hugo Lloris: 6 Helpless for the Villa goal and rarely called upon to make saves despite Villa having some decent chances. Getty 14/26 Kyle Naughton: 6 Did a solid job but unable to provide the same attacking impact he did against Brighton earlier in the week. GETTY 15/26 Younes Kaboul: 4 How the captain is keeping his place in the Spurs side is beyond me – he has been calamitous all season and today was no different. Bullied by Benteke and fluffed a great chance at the other end. GETTY 16/26 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Looks relatively assured alongside Kaboul but also struggled to deal with the physicality of Benteke. Getty 17/26 Danny Rose: 6 Will be disappointed he lost out to N’Zogbia in the build up to the Villa goal – aside from that offered a good outlet going forward on numerous occasions. Getty 18/26 Etienne Capoue: 5 Solid but unspectacular showing from the central midfielder – yet to show he is any better than the likes of Paulinho and Sandro who he has been chosen over by Mauricio Pochettino. Getty 19/26 Ryan Mason: 6 Good performance from the youngster but yet to show he has the quality to affect the game in the final third. GETTY 20/26 Nacer Chadli: 6 Sometimes isn’t direct enough when in good positions but did well to convert his big chance when it came – a well-placed volley which got his side level. GETTY 21/26 Christian Eriksen: 5 Failed to capitalise on some good situations in the opening stages and was withdrawn by his manager at half-time. Getty 22/26 Roberto Soldado: 6 Had some good moments – most notably when he put his strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor in on goal but still seems to be lacking confidence in front of goal. GETTY 23/26 Emmanuel Adebayor: 6 Played some nice passes through the Villa defence but missed his big chance when through one-on-one – interesting that he was withdrawn on the hour mark and not Roberto Soldado. GETTY 24/26 Harry Kane: 8 The boy wonder did the business again – he came off the bench and invigorated his side before getting a slightly fortuitous winner in the 90th minute as his free kick was deflected in. GETTY 25/26 Erik Lamela: 6 Gradually settling into life in the Premier League – looked a threat after coming on at half-time and provided the corner which Chadli equalised from. Getty 26/26 Andros Townsend: 7 Looked the most likely to make something happen as Spurs struggled to get back on level terms – won the free kick which Kane converted to secure victory. GETTY

The early signs are that Mason is following the same path. Kane told Standard Sport: “When I was in the youth team, he was someone I always modelled myself on — an incredible player.

“It’s been great to see him do so well this season and in the games he’s started, he has probably been one of our best players.”