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Tottenham’s Ryan Mason Intends to Play More Games

By Alexander Balano

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to kickoff during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on April 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 25: Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to kickoff during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on April 25, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
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After experiencing an unfortunate setback last season, Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason is intent on playing more games this year by issuing a friendly warning to Mousa Dembélé.

This is the second time this summer that Ryan Mason has been vocal about trying to make it onto Mauricio Pochettino’s 25-man squad for this upcoming season.

And for the Tottenham midfielder, it’s great to see that he will do whatever it takes to keep his place on this team despite the challenges ahead of him.

Related Story: Tottenham's Mason Hopes to Impress Pochettino Next Year

"“I’m a professional footballer, I want to be playing every single game,” Mason said (via London Evening Standard). “I didn’t do that last year but there’s no arguments.”“I think I started four or five of the first games, got injured against Sunderland and when I came back, the team was flying and the midfielders were doing well and it was very difficult to break into that.”“That’s part of football, it’s a clean slate in pre-season when I go back and hopefully I can work my way into a place.”“Two seasons ago me and Nabil [Bentaleb] started almost every game together in midfield and last season it was different. So next season it is not a foregone conclusion that Eric Dier and Mousa [Dembélé] will be in there.”“Our gaffer is very big on training your way into the team and you deserve to play if you’re training well, so I’m sure if me and Nabil go back in pre-season and train and play well, there is no reason why the gaffer wouldn’t start us.”“I’m sure Nabil is working hard just as I am to go back as fit as possible.”"

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - MAY 12: Ryan Mason and Clinton N'Jie look on during a Tottenham Hotspur training session at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on May 12, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND – MAY 12: Ryan Mason and Clinton N’Jie look on during a Tottenham Hotspur training session at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on May 12, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /

For Ryan Mason to return as a starter on this squad, he needs to remain as fit as possible because two injuries robbed him of playing time.

The form of others didn’t help matters as it quickly made him become many people’s first choices to be sold this summer.

But, if you take a look at what he did early last season, he was on the fringe of being a permanent starter for the second consecutive season. It’s hard to see that happening again this season even with Mousa Dembélé sitting out the first four games of the Premier League season.

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While being a backup isn’t want he wants, as he would like to start, being on the substitutes’ bench right now is Ryan Mason’s best option depending on what Pochettino does at the central midfield position.

Currently, there is no news on Tottenham pursuing a central midfielder as Spurs are on the lookout for attacking midfielders and or wingers.

So it remains to be seen if central midfield will actually be bolstered this summer. After all, Tom Carroll’s contract is expiring at the end of this summer. Then again, his Transfermarkt profile page states that his contract expired at the end of last month. But he’s still on the team somehow.

Regardless, once Mousa Dembélé returns, the bench is where Mason will end up if he sticks around on this team. That’s not necessarily bad, as he could still earn some playing time, but it’s the best option for him right now.

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Signing a new five year contract extension this past January would indicate that he’s a part of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. Then again, these deals tend to be null when players opt to move elsewhere after a year.

So it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen to Ryan Mason’s future. Strictly speaking though, between Mason and Carroll, Mason has just a little more upside due to his 2014-15 season as a full-time starter and what he showed early this season before he got injured.

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