Mauricio Pochettino insists Danny Rose - one of five players left in London ahead of tonight's Europa League tie at Partizan Belgrade - has not been left at home after suffering racial abuse in Serbia in 2012.

Rose, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele and Younes Kaboul have not travelled to Serbia ahead of Spurs' clash with Partizan.

And Pochettino insists his decision to leave Rose out of the travelling party has nothing to do with the fact the left-back was racially abused in Serbia whilst on England Under-21 duty in 2012.

Rose, on loan at Sunderland at the time, was caught in a melee at full-time after being accused of provoking home supporters.

Serbia's Nikola Ninkovic, who plays for Partizan, was banned for a year by the Serbian Football Association as a result of the incident.

Speaking ahead of tonight's game, Pochettino said: "The decision was based on football only. All my selection decisions are based on football always.

"I think two years ago is a long time. My decision was simply to give him a rest because down to him being tired after Sunderland.

"Before that he was with the national team for two weeks. It's always a stress to go with the national team.

"We also have a big squad and it allows other players to play and for me to see another player."

Summer signing Ben Davies looks set to be given his Tottenham debut in Rose's place, whilst Michel Vorm, Federico Fazio and Roberto Soldado all appear likely to start as Pochettino shuffles his pack.