Tim Sherwood has told Paulinho he needs to prove to himself in training that he deserves a place in Tottenham's first team, according to the Daily Mail.

Paulinho was a regular during the first half of the season under Andre Villas-Boas, who signed the midfielder in a £17million deal from Corinthians.

However he has struggled for form in recent weeks, and has found himself out of Tim Sherwood's starting line up, something the Brazilian midfielder is not happy about.

He said: "I understand the team rotation because that’s how it works here but I am not feeling well or comfortable. I want to be present, I want to play.

"The language is the most complicated thing as I am lazy about studying. I am learning little by little but I don’t understand everything."

Paulinho is desperate to earn a place in the Brazil squad for the summer's World Cup, however that looks unlikely after his dip in form.

He has not featured in the previous three matches, and Sherwood is adamant he will only pick the players he feels deserves their place.

"I pick players on what they are doing in training, not on reputations and price tags," Sherwood said.

"I can’t be worrying if the Brazil national manager wants him to play every week. I am going to do what is best for Tottenham, not any national manager.

"He knows if he trains well and plays well, he stays in the side. He’s come here from another country and the language has been a problem for him.

"Also settling into the Premier League, it’s a different game from what he has been used to. It’s very fast with no respite and we play a completely different way to the Brazil team and the team he has come from.

"He won’t find any Premier League team similar to what he has been used to. But he trains well and wants to be a success."

[ad_pod id='ricco' align='center']