Tottenham's Ryan Mason: England needs more managers like Mauricio Pochettino
WHEN Tottenham’s Ryan Mason steps out at Burnley this afternoon he hopes his amazing success story will send a message to Premier League managers who pack their squads with foreigners.
Mason wants more young English players to be given a chance in the Premier League
It is simply this: Give your English kids a chance - they could be better than you think.
This time last year Mason was recovering from an operation on his ankle and wondering if he would ever fulfil his dream of playing for his beloved Tottenham in the Premier League.
He goes to Turf Moor today as a first team regular, a full England international, and dreaming about what other miracles might happen over the next 12 months.
The midfielder’s meteoric story has catapulted him from a football fringe figure to stardom that is the stuff of dreams - thanks to an Argentinian boss who believes in England and it’s youngsters.
Mauricio Pochettino gave him a break when even Mason had doubts and the rest is history. Now Spurs' other man of the moment is on a mission to show those Premier League doubters what they are missing on their own doorsteps.
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Mason made his England debut this week against Italy
Some English players get a couple of opportunities and if they don’t perform then that’s it
Ryan Mason
He says: “It’s brilliant that he (Pochettino) is not worried about putting you in. Hopefully more Premier League managers will start doing that for the sake of English football.
“The Germans and the Spanish are not better than us technically, it is just that they get the opportunity younger in their leagues and can come and play in the Premier League.
“It is important to bring young players through if they are good enough. You see what the Under-21s are doing now. They are unbelievable. Hopefully that will continue and many more players will make the cut in the Premier League.
“I understand there is a lot of pressure on managers to get instant results, but English players know the league. And there is plenty of talent out there.
“Some English players get a couple of opportunities and if they don’t perform then that’s it and they bring someone in from abroad.
“They tend to give them a lot more time to settle in, but if English players can start coming through then it will benefit our national team.”
Burnley v Tottenham - Premier League Preview
Mason is the first to admit that he could so easily have ended up on that scrapheap without Pochettino’s help and foresight.
“What’s happened for me is crazy,” he says. “To make my England debut is just a dream come true.
“This time last year I was pretty depressed. I was in the last two years of my contract and getting to that age when if it hadn’t happened this season I probably would have looked to leave.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think there were times when I thought it wouldn’t happen here. But I always had the belief that if I could string a run of games together I’d make it in the top flight.
“It took a lot longer than I’d have wished for but what I’ve been through makes me appreciate it a lot more.”
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Right now Mason has only one regret and that is that his proud parents missed his international debut in Italy last week.
“The best moment was my mum and dad saying how proud they were of me making my debut, but they missed the game after their flights were cancelled because of the winds. They got to Germany but didn’t make it to Turin. They were devastated.”
In the meantime Mason’s girlfriend, Rachel, has made sure he will never forget the latest magical moment in his fairytale story by framing a picture of him celebrating Andros Townsend’s England equaliser with his other Spurs teammates, Harry Kane and Kyle Walker.
“You could see what it meant to us and my girlfriend framed it pretty sharpish. It’s already hanging in my living room,” he added.
