Mauricio Pochettino declined to confirm why Dani Osvaldo was missing from the Saints squad to face Tottenham yesterday.

The club record signing, right, has until today to answer an FA charge of violent conduct relating to the dugout melee that occurred during injury time of the 1-1 draw at Newcastle.

He was not even on the bench as Saints faced Spurs with some talk that he may have picked up a knock in training.

However, when pressed about the nature of the Italian’s absence, Pochettino would only say: “He wasn’t on the list so it just means he wasn’t able to play.”