Mauricio Pochettino says he is not surprised by Jadon Sancho's impact at Borussia Dortmund as his Tottenham side prepare to face the winger in Wednesday's Champions League clash.

Sancho, 18, has been one of the breakout stars in Europe this season after joining Dortmund from Manchester City for £8million, propelling BVB to the top of the Bundesliga with eight goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

With topscorer Marco Reus and striker Paco Alcacer both injured, Sancho should be Dortmund's biggest attacking threat in the last 16 first leg at Wembley and he is likely to be up against an auxiliary left-back in Jan Vertonghen – with Spurs pair Danny Rose and Ben Davies both unfit to start.

Pochettino says he has been tracking Sancho since before he moved to Germany and claims the England international's form has not come as a surprise to him.

"I am not too much impressed about him," Pochettino said. "We knew very well that he was capable of doing what he is doing now with game time. We have seen the quality that he was showing in Manchester City and for his national team.

"I think we were talking in the last few years that he was a massive prospect to be a very good player. Of course he is showing now in Germany that he can cope with the pressure to play in the Bundesliga or in the Champions League. And no, it doesn't surprise me. His talent is there and he's a very talented player."

Spurs were among the clubs vying for Sancho's signature when he decided to leave City in search of first team football in August 2017 but, asked about their interest, Pochettino said: "I don't want to talk about that."

Spurs host Dortmund after a gruelling run of 21 matches since mid-November but they will have ten days off after game, with Pochettino planning to allow his squad to spend time with their families rather than organise a warm-weather training camp.

The Argentine has claimed Spurs have put at a "massive disadvantage" after hosting Leicester on Sunday, 24 after Dortmund's draw with Hoffenheim, but he said he could see the motivation to play in the Champions League in the eyes of his players.

"We’re going to arrive in a very good condition," he said. "It was a little bit unfair [the schedule] but that is not an excuse. I think you can feel in the eyes of the players the energy. We were talking in the meeting before and it’s completely different. If you ask me why, I don’t know, because I’m a person whose own motivation is always high, when we play against Dortmund or Barcelona, or against different games in different competitions.

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"But of course you can feel that it’s the Champions League, that it’s going to be a massive game with, I hope, a full stadium at Wembley and of course the energy and motivation is going to be there. If not, if we’re not ready to compete and play in this type of place and situation, you can start to think that we have some problem. But I think we’re going to find the energy and give our best to try to be close to winning tomorrow."

Rose will be assessed ahead of a possible place on the bench after suffering a gashed shin in the 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday, while Davies is sidelined with a groin injury leaving Vertonghen likely to play out of position against Sancho.

"I was speaking with some of the guys with the national team and they are impressed," the Belgian said. "He came there as a young player with not too many expectations for this season but he’s done very well, scored goals and lots of assists so impressed by his development and always exciting to see young player do so well."

Vertonghen, who turns 32 in April and is out of contract at Spurs in 2020, said he wanted to enjoy big games more as he approached retirement but insisted he feels the best he ever has and has no plans to hang up his boots yet.

"I don’t feel that old yet. I try to enjoy every moment o fit. Champions league game sare unbelievable, to play in the Premier League. I realise every week I want to keep going as long as I can. I feel the best I have ever felt physically. I feel in great condition. I am not thinking about the end yet but every year is bit closer to the end of my career and these games, you want to enjoy them. You definitely want to win them and it would be nice to pass this stage of the Champions League once.

"We can beat anyone," he added. "We have shown that last year. Over two games we were the better team against real Madrid who were the eventual winners of the trophy. That is why it was a shame we could not do better last year because we felt we should have done better. That is why everyone has the feeling we can do it this year."