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Pochettino: Carter-Vickers “deserves to play in the starting XI”

Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico De Madrid - 2016 International Champions Cup Australia

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Cameron Carter-Vickers of Tottenham runs with the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

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More and more American players are making waves overseas, and one of the country’s brightest defensive prospects could be getting closer to earning his starting spot.

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Cameron Carter-Vickers has consistently earned a place on the Tottenham bench this season, however, head coach Mauricio Pochettino recognizes the U.S. Under-23 National Team defender has the talent to start.

“I believe that Cameron is doing well,” Pochettino said ahead of . “If you watch the games against Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan again, I think he deserves to play in the starting XI.

“He can give to the team better quality than another player. It’s for that [he’s named on the bench]. All my decisions are because I think a player can give more things than another player. It’s for that that I picked him on the bench.

The 18-year-old has been with Spurs since 2009 when Carter-Vickers joined the club’s youth academy. While he has yet to start a senior team match for Tottenham in a league match, Carter-Vickers could be getting closer to finding the pitch.