Ryan Mason signed a long-term contract with Tottenham in January. Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

Ryan Mason plans to fight his way back into Mauricio Pochettino's starting XI at Tottenham next season after losing his place to Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele.

Mason, 25, saw his progress interrupted by injury and the form of others as Spurs challenged for the Premier League title but ended up finishing third behind Leicester and Arsenal.

And, after signing a new contract with the club in January, he is now targeting a regular place in the team.

"I'm a professional footballer, I want to be playing every single game," he told the Evening Standard. "I didn't do that last year but there's no arguments.

"I think I started four or five of the first games, got injured against Sunderland and when I came back, the team was flying and the midfielders were doing well and it was very difficult to break into that.

"That's part of football, it's a clean slate in preseason when I go back and hopefully I can work my way into a place.

"Two seasons ago me and Nabil [Bentaleb] started almost every game together in midfield and last season it was different. So next season it is not a foregone conclusion that Eric Dier and Mousa [Dembele] will be in there.

"Our gaffer is very big on training your way into the team and you deserve to play if you're training well, so I'm sure if me and Nabil go back in preseason and train and play well, there is no reason why the gaffer wouldn't start us.

"I'm sure Nabil is working hard just as I am to go back as fit as possible."