Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has no intention of loaning out Kyle Walker-Peters and says the 21-year-old has become one of his "best options."

Walker-Peters has struggled for game time this season, with Tuesday's Champions League showdown at the Camp Nou being only his second start and his third appearance in all competitions. His night began badly as he lost the ball to Ousmane Dembele, who gave Barcelona a seventh-minute lead, and he was promptly booked before being substituted in the 61st minute.

But Pochettino was pleased with the young right-back's performance and believes he can rival Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier for a regular starting spot.

Kyle Walker-Peters had a tough time against Barcelona but Mauricio Pochettino has no intention of loaning the youngster out. JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

Asked whether Walker-Peters could be loaned out to get more experience, the Argentinian replied: "Now, no. Now, for me, he's one of the best options.

"Like always, who deserves it more is going to play -- you know me. I'm so happy with his performance.

"Look what happened against PSV with Toby [Alderweireld], or Juan Foyth on another day [against Arsenal], or the same with [Kieran] Trippier in the game [against] City or Barcelona. The same [with] Hugo [Lloris].

"All the players can struggle sometimes in some actions but the most important thing is to see the big picture, and he was very good.

"I wanted to protect him in the second half because he had a yellow card but I'm so happy and so proud of how he managed the pressure. I'm very pleased and I talk very highly of him."

While Pochettino intends to keep Walker-Peters, he can foresee some departures in January.

"Sometimes players who maybe don't play too much, they need to go and play in another [club]," he said. "Maybe to keep players that don't play in the first half of the season, you can manage [them]. But players that cannot manage to spend all the season not being important in the team -- that is the moment we talked about before, to talk with players that are maybe disappointed because they don't play too much -- maybe the best decision is to send them on loan or to sell some players. But that is about when the moment arrives to talk with different players."

Spurs did not sign a single player in the summer transfer window, and Pochettino is unsure whether there will be any arrivals in January either. Asked whether he would be disappointed if he again couldn't strength his squad, he said: "No, not disappointed. I know very well that January is always difficult.

"If you find some player, look what happened to different players that arrived in January last season. It takes time to understand and to perform, to fit with the team. Sometimes it's better not to sign if you don't find the right player."