Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has told midfielder Paulinho he must work hard in training to regain his place in the starting line-up.
Paulinho joined Tottenham from Brazilian side Corinthians last summer for £17m, but has recently fallen out of favour under Sherwood and hasn’t started a Premier League game for over a month.
The midfielder said last week he was “not feeling well or comfortable” at White Hart Lane due to his lack of game time and difficulty in learning English.
With the World Cup looming, he will be anxious to get more playing time for Spurs, despite Brazil team coordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira’s assurance he still remains an important part of their plans.
Sherwood, who has been in charge of Tottenham since December last year, said his team selection is based solely on merit.
“I pick players on what they are doing in training, not on reputations and price tags,” said Sherwood. “I can’t be worrying if the Brazil national manager wants him to play every week.
“I am going to do what is best for Tottenham, not any national manager. [Paulinho] knows if he trains well and plays well, he stays in the side.
“Settling into the Premier League, it’s a different game from what he has been used to. It’s very fast with no respite and we play a completely different way to the Brazil team and the team he has come from.
“He won’t find any Premier League team similar to what he has been used to. But he trains well and wants to be a success.”
