Mauricio Pochettino admitted that set-pieces have become “a trauma” for his Tottenham Hotspur defenders after they conceded another goal that way in the defeat to Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Pochettino’s team face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday with Dele Alli potentially returning to the side and questions being asked of the Spurs defence. Pochettino said: “Yes, it’s true we concede a lot [from set-pieces] and we are talking a lot about it. It is like you put the focus on it and when the moment arrives it happens again, like you create a trauma.

“The game that we lost and the way we conceded goals, it so painful. But it happens in football and we need to be strong. It is so important to keep our belief.”

Dele will not be risked against Brighton unless he is completely fit, Pochettino has said, despite the team’s current run of three straight defeats.

The attacker is back in training after injuring a hamstring during England duty and Pochettino said he would not be influenced by the difficult situation in which the club find themselves in. He said: “We are never going to put ourselves or our interest in front and take risks for a player. We are never going to take risks because we need to win. The most important thing is that if the players are on the pitch, they need to feel 100 per cent [sure they can play].”