Mauricio Pochettino has warned his young English midfielder Harry Winks that if he is to become a regular for club and country then he needs to dedicate himself to football and “not the business around football”.

The Tottenham Hotspur manager also said that Winks, 22, who has one England cap, would have to learn to play “with pain” and that in the life of a professional it is almost impossible to be completely fit and pain-free for every game. Winks is in contention to start Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Liverpool, having made three substitute appearances this season following a long injury lay-off that claimed the final three months of last season.

Winks injured an ankle against Crystal Palace in November and struggled on to the end of February, playing his last game against Rochdale in the FA Cup fifth round on Feb 28. He eventually had surgery in May and went to Qatar to work on his rehabilitation. Pochettino chose his words carefully at the club’s training ground this week, praising the player but also warning him that he needed to make sacrifices if he was to fulfil the potential that many, including England manager Gareth Southgate, believe he has.

Winks was set back last season by injury credit: REUTERS

Pochettino said that Winks had the “perfect” profile for a midfielder but was cautious of praising him too much in case his “head [grows big]”. “The perception will be ‘Wow’ and the reality is ‘You still need to prove [yourself]’. The characteristics are perfect to play football. When we talk about midfielders like Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta, he’s like this type of player, but, please, he needs to take my words in a very positive way. He needs a lot of work.

“He has the possibility and the potential of course but now it is up to him and we go again: mentality. In his mind he [has to be] capable to learn about suffering; that there never is enough training, always try to be better. Football is his focus, not business that is around football. Maybe [if he learns this] he will arrive to play in a very good level and be one of the best midfielders in England.

“It is not my advice it is only how I describe the reality. If he wants to take it, take it … but of course his potential is to be a very, very good player for England and Tottenham, first for Tottenham and then if England believe that he can help them for England too.”

Football is his focus, not business that is around football. Maybe [if he learns this] he will arrive to play in a very good level and be one of the best midfielders in England

Pochettino said that Winks also had to learn that most professional footballers managed pain, and that it was “impossible” to expect to play without it. “You use your body for work. You push your body from a very young age. It is not a healthy sport and you always try to push your body and touch the limits and sometimes cross. For him, it was new. He had a serious operation last summer and of course that is something that will always be there.

“The psychology [required] is that you have suffered and are not free. You need to learn to live with this situation and he is now much better and stronger in his mentality. I am sure he will make a step up. It is only time to get to his best for the team."