Football: Pochettino calm over Tottenham's sluggish start

LEICESTER, United Kingdom - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is refusing to fret over his side's sluggish start to the season ahead of Saturday's tricky trip to in-form Leicester City.

Pochettino's team are already playing catch up after collecting just one point from their opening two Premier League games, and the Argentine's squad is also lacking depth due to the club's cautious approach in the transfer window.

Against Leicester, who boast a 100 percent record, Pochettino could do with a positive result to lift spirits at White Hart Lane.

But the former Southampton manager insists there is no reason to panic at this early stage.

"You look at the table after 10 games. Then you need to be worried or maybe you are happy," he said.

"It is very long season and we need to keep the same level and improve defensively and be more consistent.

"All the people will speak about we need offensive players but we need to be more consistent because we conceded a lot of goals last season.

"It wasn't our problem to score, it was conceding goals and we need to improve that this season.

"We know we face a very difficult game against Leicester." Pochettino is slowly but surely clearing the decks for new signings, with West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino reportedly his main target.

Clinton N'Jie has arrived from Lyon and he could figure if Tottenham receive international clearance in time.

But if the Cameroon striker fails to make it, extra onus will be on Harry Kane.

England forward Kane faces a fight of his own to play after sustaining a calf injury which forced him off in the 2-2 draw with Stoke City last time out.

"We played the last two games in a good level and I am not worried about the future or our situation," added Pochettino.

"Our situation is good. We had N'Jie come in this week, an offensive player, and I'm happy with my squad."

Competitive

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is preparing to give Gokhan Inler an immediate debut for the club after the Switzerland midfielder arrived from Napoli this week.

Inler has been declared match fit and may be Ranieri's first change for his side after he had named the same team in both the opening two matches of the season against Sunderland and West Ham United.

The combative 31-year-old is now looking forward to experiencing the feisty nature of English football.

"Italian football is very tactical and very fast, they have everything," he said.

"The Premier League is one of the best leagues, very fast. They fight and the referees sometimes don't whistle. In Italy they whistle all the time, maybe I like that about here!

"Everything was perfect for me. With the coach, with the owners, the facilities, the club, the team, I saw how they play and I think I can help how they play.

"I see the young guys and it's important to be in a squad who wants to grow up. I am ready and I hope I can start positively.

"I feel very good, the team have a positive spirit and hopefully everything turns out well.

"I saw them last season, also this year, all the 180 minutes of the two games. I like the team, they play football, and they have fast players. With this manager I think we can grow up." Inler, who is at last the replacement for Esteban Cambiasso that Ranieri wanted, could come into the midfield in place of Andy King or Danny Drinkwater.