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Harry Winks has been playing through the pain barrier at Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder says, via quotes in the London Evening Standard, that he is having issues with his ankle but is attempting to block out the injury.

What's the word?

Winks has been almost ever-present for Spurs this season, playing 22 times in the Premier League.

He has scored once - netting a dramatic late winner against Fulham in late January - and has excelled in a defensive midfield role.

Since the departure of Mousa Dembele and with injury problems plaguing Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier, Winks is aware of the need to keep playing under Mauricio Pochettino.

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Speaking to the London Evening Standard, he said: “Yeah, I have niggles in my ankle, which I’m managing to play with. I have managed to somehow put that to the back of my mind. I try not to worry or overthink it too much.

“This season has been fantastic. I set some aims — just to play as many games as possible and stay fit all season. So far, so good. I’ve played a lot of matches and, fingers crossed, I will stay injury-free.”

Wrap Winks in cotton wool

Tottenham must wrap Winks in cotton wool.

The young Englishman has been excellent under his Argentine manager and has stepped up in recent weeks, proving that he can ally his silky eye for a pass to the steel needed to operate in defensive midfield.

With Wanyama and Dier both susceptible to injuries, and Dembele now in China, there is added pressure on the 23-year-old to stay fit and firing.

And Pochettino would do well to, where the opportunity presents itself, give Winks a rest.

With Spurs in the title race, for now, they can hardly afford to lose yet another player to injury.