Mauricio Pochettino has allowed Marcus Edwards to join Norwich City on loan for the rest of the season. A host of clubs declared their interest in the 19-year-old Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder and Norwich were selected as the preferred option.

Edwards, who made his Tottenham debut as a substitute in the EFL Cup against Gillingham in September 2016, has been unable to force himself back into first-team contention this season.

Pochettino has come to accept that Edwards is at a stage of his development where he needs to experience regular senior football and he decided a loan to the Championship was the ideal short-term solution.

The manager continues to see a pathway at Tottenham for Edwards, who is so talented that he has acquired the nickname “Mini Messi” at the club. He was a part of the England squad that won the European Under-19 Championship last July.

Norwich have secured Edwards after selling Alex Pritchard to Huddersfield Town. Edwards is ineligible for the FA Cup tie at Chelsea on Wednesday because he was not registered in time.

Spurs have exercised a recall option to bring back the defender Cameron Carter-Vickers from his loan at Sheffield United.