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Pochettino: Lloris close to fitness

Cape Town - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says Hugo Lloris will be available for selection after the international break following his hamstring injury in the first game of the season.

Lloris lasted just 35 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Everton, as a result of an exhausting summer, playing every game for France in the European Championships.

He was just one of a number of Spurs players doing duty for their country at Euro 2016, leading Pochettino to bemoan the fact that he will lose the same contingent during the upcoming international break.

The league has just kicked off, but clubs are having to suspend their activities with World Cup qualifiers on the go.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Premier League clash with Liverpool, Pochettino said: "He is very good. It will be difficult for Saturday, but after the international break he is with us again and available for the team.

"We are happy because it is a big issue his injury and we think he will be available very soon.

"He is not available to play (with France). He is with us for the next few weeks."

On losing his players to their national teams, the Argentine added: "That is football, we can't change the rules. It's too early again to start the competition with the national team but we can't change anything.

"It is too difficult that the same players will be involved on international duty, but there is nothing we can do as the players want to be involved in the national team.

"It's an opportunity to play for your country, to play for a place in the next World Cup. It's important for them."

He concluded: "It's very important how we manage the squad. Like last week Dele Alli was ill for two or three days and it's impossible for him to train.

"Then you cannot kill the players, they are not machines. It is important how we manage them. Try to help them to be fit to compete for the whole of the season."

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