Tottenham travel to relegation-threatened Southampton trying to claim a first league win since February 10

Mauricio Pochettino will hope his Southampton return is a happy one despite looking set to sit in the stands at St Mary’s.

The Spurs manager was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association and handed a two-match touchline ban on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Tottenham Hotspur boss admitted he was still waiting for the written reasons to arrive before deciding whether to appeal his punishment.

As things stand, it looks likely Pochettino will watch Saturday’s clash from the directors box and assistant Jesus Perez will be tasked with guiding the team from the touchline.

It is a big job for the Spaniard, yet Spurs’ manager will have no worries about his number two given the close relationship they have built over a significant period of time.

Perez will be helped out by first-team coach Miguel D’Agostino and Toni Jemenez, who trains the goalkeepers at Tottenham, against the Saints as the Lilywhites seek to remain in third spot.

Recent defeats at Burnley and Chelsea have seen the north London club pulled back into a fight for a top-four finish.

Although the Lilywhites are currently third, in-form Manchester United are only three points off them now.

Slightly further back, Arsenal and Chelsea have closed in some more too, so a victory on the road this weekend is vital.

Following the high of Tuesday’s excellent 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, it is back to the bread and butter of the league and Harry Kane knows it won’t be easy at Southampton.

The Saints are 17th in the table and only three points above the drop zone, but have improved in recent months under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Kane said: “Whenever you stop a losing streak it kind of gives you a little boost and a bit of momentum, but it’s still not going to be easy.

“We will still have to go and perform and of course Southampton away will be tough, they are fighting against relegation.

“And then we have got a bit of a break after that (until March 31), so we definitely want to finish with a win.”