Pochettino: Marcus Edwards reminds me of Messi

Mauricio Pochettino is pondering whether to hand Marcus Edwards - a player he says reminds him of Lionel Messi - his first-team debut in Wednesday's League Cup tilt with Gillingham, reports David Hytner from The Guardian.

Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year-old attacking midfield dynamo is from the local Winchmore Hill School rather than Rosario in central Argentina and, some will point out, by that age Messi was already en route to his first La Liga title with Barcelona.

Still, Pochettino has deemed it appropriate to compare his natural No. 10's ability to drift past defenders, and adeptness at remaining in the possession while opponents fruitlessly try to bundle him off the ball, with one of football's all-time greats.

"His qualities … it's only looks - his body and the way that he plays - remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi," said the Argentinian gaffer.

While lavishing such lofty praise on a player can be detrimental - then-Liverpool manager Brendan Rodger's branding of Joe Allen as "the Welsh Xavi" has been detrimental to viewers' opinion of the player - Pochettino is confident Edwards has a bright future in the game.

"He is a very good prospect and, potentially, he can be a top player but we need to be patient and tell him that he has a lot of talent, enough talent to be a top player, a great player, but now it's how he builds his future - that's very important," Pochettino explained. "It's our responsibility to tell him."

Tottenham was dumped from the third round of last season's League Cup by archrival Arsenal but, against Gillingham, a side situated in mid-table of the third tier, will be expected to easily clear the first hurdle.