Andros Townsend claims Newcastle will stay up following Steve McClaren’s spending spree

Townsend joined the Spurs academy aged eight and went on to make 93 senior appearances for the London club.

At first Andros Townsend treats the question with the sort of tentative caution that would fail to carry him beyond the most limited full-back.

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Townsend will hope his move will enable him to persuade England boss Roy Hodgson that he has a role to play at this summer’s Euro 2016 finals, although that will not be his main motivation in the weeks and moths ahead.

He said: “Growing up, Ginola was my favourite player to watch – so no pressure there!”

“Now I am not just looking to get back to where I was but looking to become an even better player”. As well as teeing up the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez, the 24-year-old also has to prove that the days of dazzling Newcastle United wing play are not at an end. So you kind of take ego out of the equation, buckle down and play football at any level I could get and hopefully reap the benefits from that.

“I know that £12m is a lot of money but if I can reach my potential and play to the ability I have, then I am sure the same people who are talking about that now will be saying it is a bargain”. “I’m the same player and the same person that did break on the scene a few years ago and was tipped as a big England prospect”. “Premier League survival is the focus for everyone in the dressing room, and then should we maintain that, we can start thinking about the future and bigger picture”.

And, after completing his medical and wrapping up personal terms on Wednesday, he said: “I’m delighted to be here”.

Townsend was banished to the Spurs Under-21 side for much of the campaign after falling out with trainer Nathan Gardiner following the win over Aston Villa in November.

Townsend’s ostracism under Pochettino began shortly after he had rowed, publicly, with the club’s fitness coach, but the winger denied that was the reason he was dumped. “Unfortunately the first team were in Barcelona when I left so I didn’t manage to speak to him before coming here but I hold no grudges with the manager”.

“The club disciplined me and after a week I was training with the first team and on the bench again”.