Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino heralded the maturity of 19-year-old Dele Alli as he produced a man of match performance in their win over Aston Villa.

The former MK Dons prodigy scored the second in a 3-1 win against bottom of the league Villa and has blossomed in the middle of the park for the lilywhites.

Speaking about the teenager, Pochettino said: “He is a very humble boy, he has improved a lot. I am very happy for him and the players.

“We saw the big potential in Dele Alli. Our staff believe in the younger players and give them the tool to improve.

“Some players need more time, some less. But Dele Alli from the first day started to show he was capable to play in the Premier League and that is why we gave him the opportunity to play.”

The hosts opened the scoring from Mousa Dembele, then Alli just before half time but were almost undone with ten minutes to go from Jordan Ayew’s deflected shot.

Harry Kane then rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to make it ten matches without defeat in the Premier League for Spurs.

Despite the longest unbeaten run in Premier League history for Spurs, Pochettino would not be drawn into speaking about it.

He said: “For me it means nothing, in football it is always present. It is true, 10 unbeaten but in football you need to keep focus.”

He added: “It was a good game, not an easy game. When they have a new manager, they have extra motivation which is never easy.

“Only the last ten minutes we made a mistake and conceded the goal and then Gestede goes in and some doubt in the box but the victory is fair.

“We are in a good position, we are still a very young team.”

Pochettino welcomed new Aston Villa Remi Garde, who was watching from the stands, to the Premier League.

The Spurs boss said he has been inspired by the Rugby World Cup and by the team spirit shown by sides.

He said: “We tried to play like a team, in the Rugby World Cup they play like a team, you need your team mate in every action, and the mentality and spirit that we need to translate into football.

I am in love with the rugby after this world cup, after you watch something live, it is fantastic – I enjoyed it a lot.”