Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham have not started their summer holidays early and has demanded an improved performance against Newcastle on Sunday.

Spurs have fallen back in the race for a top-four place in the wake of defeats away at Liverpool and Manchester United and there have been suggestions his players’ minds have drifted towards the summer break already.

Spurs turned in lacklustre displays in their last two outings, failing to score in games against Burnley and Aston Villa and picking up just one point.

Pochettino says it would be too easy to suggest his squad are thinking of the summer break and he expects to see an improvement at St James’ Park.

“When you lose it is an easy explanation. In football we use a lot of those but it’s not true,” said the Argentine.
“When you lose we need to be serious and analyse why. But it is difficult to explain sometimes why.”

Spurs are 2.25 to get three points at Newcastle and Pochettino is demanding they regain their concentration.

“It is true that different things happen during the season, we are up or down. But it is true that the last two games were not good. We need to improve,” he added.

Newcastle are 3.10 to inflict another defeat on Spurs, with the draw 3.30.

With six games left to play, Spurs trail Liverpool in fifth by three points.

With the Reds in FA Cup action this weekend, Tottenham could join them on 57 points as they look to at least secure Europa League football for next season.