Ex-Tottenham and England manager Glenn Hoddle has backed current Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to lead the club towards title challenge in the future.

Tottenham currently sit sixth on the Premier League table but Hoddle feels Argentine tactician Pochettino can guide them towards the top echelon of teams in the next season or two.

"Definitely this season Tottenham will miss out on the top four but there is no evidence to suggest he will be sacked because of it," said Hoddle about Pochettino.

"It is very difficult to get into the top four and the powers-that-be at Tottenham now realise that.

"Pochettino's stock may have been sky high at Southampton but I believe that even though Tottenham have not been able to compete for the top four places - and, I believe, will miss out - his stock has risen even higher from his time at White Hart Lane.

"He is by no means the finished article. But the players have shown they want to play his system under him and there has been an improvement as the season has gone on in their high-pressing style.

"But there have been glimpses this season that Tottenham could one day become title challengers - they are playing the right style of football to do it, they just have to get the ingredients right. They simply have to buy right to move on."

Tottenham will face Pochettino's former club Southampton on Saturday at St. Mary's Stadium.