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Mauricio Pochettino unsure how Newcastle boycott will affect Tottenham

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Jamie Redknapp looks ahead to the Premier League game between Newcastle and Tottenham.

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is unsure whether a planned boycott by Newcastle fans will prove a help or hindrance to his side on Sunday.

A number of Newcastle supporters plan to boycott the Premier League game at St James’ Park in protest against the club’s owner Mike Ashley.

Spurs are looking to recover from some disappointing recent results of their own and Pochettino admits it will be an interesting test for his side.

"You never know because sometimes the effect on the players and team maybe is positive," the Argentine said.

"Maybe sometimes the players are scared and run more than all season.

"Or maybe it is a very negative atmosphere and they feel under pressure and don't show their face.

"You never know in football how it can affect all the decisions around the team. For that it is difficult to guess what will happen on Sunday."

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Spurs have been held to a goalless draw at Burnley and beaten 1-0 at home by Aston Villa in their last two games but Pochettino is in an upbeat mood ahead of the trip to Tyneside.

"I think that football is football and I am a person who has spent all my life in football as player, manager and head coach," he said.

"I accept in football there are good and bad moments, but one important thing is to keep your balance and a good mood.

"We always want to win and we are ambitious, but always we need to have a very good mood.

"We need to have patience, we need to work hard, we have to have our minds on the players and we need to have very good energy to repeat some of the performances this season."

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The match will also see Pochettino come up against compatriot Jonas Gutierrez, whose recovery following a battle with cancer and his return to top-flight football has inspired many.

"I am very happy for him," Pochettino said. "When he went in the game against Liverpool, he got a good ovation and it was good to see him playing football.

"This is real life. Sometimes we worry about a lot of things and results, but this is real life when you have the problems that he has.

"For me, I am very happy to see him come back to football."

Watch Newcastle v Tottenham live on Super Sunday this weekend. Coverage from St James' Park begins at 3.30pm

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