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Jose Mourinho challenges Tanguy Ndombele to take control of his Tottenham careerBy Evening Standard

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Tottenham are managing "every detail" of Tanguy Ndombele's development but says it will ultimately be up to the Frenchman to turn his season around.

Spurs' record signing is expected to return to Mourinho's squad for Wednesday's clash with Norwich, having not played since hobbling off with a hip problem against Southampton on New Year's Day.

The 23-year-old has struggled for fitness since joining Spurs for £55million in the summer, completing 90 minutes just once in the Premier League since August – in the 2-2 draw at Norwich last month.

Mourinho has been left frustrated by Ndombele's fitness problems and the manager revealed that he asked not to play against Brighton on Boxing Day before complaining he was "always injured" after the 1-0 defeat at St. Mary's.

Asked how he could get the best from the mercurial midfielder, Mourinho told reporters: "By working. And working not just with me, everybody in the club is working with him.

"We have a process of trying to develop him. Not just on the tactical side, but everywhere. We have a plan with him where he is the most important part of the plan. Not me or the sports science [team] or the medical [team] or the nutrition [team]. It’s him, the crucial part of the plan.

"We need him to be good in that plan. We've put into practice a plan with everything. He’s having individual training, he’s having training with the group, training with coaches, training with sports science people. He’s having the nutritionist teaching him things he doesn’t know. We are taking care of him in every detail. But again it is him the key guy."

Mourinho described Ndombele's performance at Carrow Road last month as "absolutely phenomenal" and he did not rule out starting the former Lyon player at home to the Canaries on Wednesday.

"He's not ready for 90 minutes but will be involved, he will be selected," Mourinho said. "I'm not telling you he starts or comes on later, but no injury. Completely free. Just a question of condition and mentality to be ready, but he's back.

"I am confident [he can have a run of games] but let's see. We know what he can give to the team. If I focus on the few minutes or matches that he played for us, I saw qualities that are very important for a team to play like we do. But of course, it is not nice to play a game and after 15 minutes be out, it is not nice to play one game and then stop for two, three or four.

"This last week he worked individual work with fitness coach to bring his level up and then he was integrated with the team without any kind of problem and hopefully tomorrow it is a good start for him. We have three more matches before the [winter] break, which will be an opportunity to improve the players who are not in the best conditions. But hopefully he can give us something tomorrow, Saturday and the match against [Manchester] City."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has reiterated that Spurs will not sign a stop-gap centre-forward to replace injured talisman Harry Kane this month.

"To do something you have to do something that is good for our future too, not just good for tomorrow," he said. "Something that is good for the future too and of course the club is very aware of it and the club is very committed of course but we want to do something that is right by every point of you."