Mauricio Pochettino reveals message of goodwill Tottenham sent to Ryan Mason

Mason is no longer a Tottenham player, sold in the summer to Hull for around £13m. That is normally as far as sentiment stretches in football.

Mauricio Pochettino, though, had given him his Premier League debut and, as a product of the club’s academy, there was still a strong feeling that the unfortunate midfielder remains “one of their own”.

Messages of good will are often demanded from managers in press conferences. It is a creditable formality that recognises that sometimes it is too easy to get locked in the cut and thrust of the Premier League. Appropriate mollifying words are always delivered and always acknowledged appropriately.

This time was different, though.

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Mauricio Pochettino and the Tottenham players sent their well wishes to Ryan Mason

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Ryan Mason suffered a fractured skull against Chelsea

It is eight months since he left and Tottenham were not even in the country when Mason suffered a fractured skull against Chelsea on Sunday not but you could hear a pin drop as Pochettino passed on the most sincere best wishes.

“We were in Barcelona on Sunday watching the game and saw live the situation,” he said. “We have kept in touch with his family, his fiancee Rachel and it was a difficult moment.

“We were very worried about the action and like all of the people that know him, it was hard and was difficult.

“The good thing now is he is recovering well and has made a lot of progress, we will go after the press conference to visit him and see how he is doing. We arrived yesterday very, very late from Barcelona but now we have the opportunity to go and it will be fantastic to see him.

Premier League and Football League clubs send best wishes to Ryan Mason
Mon, January 23, 2017

Premier League and Football League clubs have been quick to send their best wishes to Ryan Mason after the Hull City midfielder suffered a fractured skull against Chelsea

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Football clubs all over the country have sent best wishes to Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason

The squad sent a video from Barcelona to him, he is a special player for us and to me personally, he grew up here at Tottenham, he is a person that we love.

“I am in contact with his family, I know he is making some progress and is much better, he walks a little bit.

“Now we will see him for one hour, two hours and it is important to know how he is and share some time with him. It will be fantastic for him and for us to try and encourage him.

“He is a player who is strong in his mind, his mentality and his personality.”

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Ryan Mason left Tottenham in the summer but Tottenham still regard him as part of their family

Mason’s sale after suffering the notorious “second season syndrome” problems that afflict so many had seemed brutal at the time, even though the request to leave a club he had served since a boy had come at the behest of the player himself. Pochettino clearly showed, though, that these things are just football decisions.

There are far more important things in the world than simply kicking a ball around and one cannot help but wonder if Spurs players are able to do that with increased confidence because they are secure in the knowledge that, on a very personal level, their manager recognises that.

And one cannot help thinking that with Pochettino giving his encouragement once again from the sidelines, Mason’s recovery can only improve.

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