Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood has warned Paulinho he must work harder in training if he wants to force his way back into the first team.
#INSERT
type:image
caption:Paulinho has struggled to pick up the English language.
END#
• Fitch: No break from problems
The Brazil international, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Corinthians last summer, has recently found himself out of favour with Sherwood following some inconsistent performances.
The 25-year-old has admitted to being frustrated by his situation and says he has struggled to pick up the English language.
But while Brazil national team coordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira says Paulinho remains key to the Selecao’s World Cup plans, Sherwood says the midfielder must prove himself on a day-to-day basis if he wants to regain a place in his starting XI.
“I pick players on what they are doing in training, not on reputations and price tags,” Sherwood said in the Daily Mirror. “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.
“He knows if he trains well and plays well, he stays in the side. He’s come here from another country and the language has been a problem for him.
“Also 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.”