LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino says Eric Dier has never complained about where he plays for Tottenham Hotspur and that he believes it is too early to assign the England international a position.
After joining Tottenham from Portuguese club Sporting in 2014, Dier rotated between right-back and centre-back in his first season in the Premier League but he was converted to a holding midfielder by Pochettino and shone last term, missing just one league match through suspension and establishing himself in the England team.
An injury to Toby Alderweireld and Pochettino's occasional use of three centre-backs has seen Dier return to a heart of defence this season and last week a report in The Times claimed he is unhappy with his lack of playing time in midfield.
However, Pochettino told a news conference on Friday: "I never heard from him that he wasn't happy.
"When he was playing as a midfielder, as a centre-back or as a full-back, he never came to say he wasn't happy to play there or in another position. We're talking about rumours.
"First of all he's 22 years old. He arrived as a 19-year-old and after two-and-a-half years he's averaged -- and I don't want to be wrong -- more than 40 official games every season.
"This season we've played 16 games in the Premier League -- he was in the starting XI in 14. He only missed one through injury -- Sunderland -- and then another against Manchester United."
Dier has refused to be drawn on his best position, insisting he is happy to play anywhere, and Pochettino, who agreed when it was suggested Dier could one day captain Spurs, said it was too early to assign him a fixed role.
"Like all the young players, sometimes you can use him in a different position," he added. "His quality is that he can play in different positions -- that's very important for every coach.
"We'll see in the future in which position he can play his best football. But for me he can play as a centre-back, as a midfielder or sometimes as a full-back. You can see that in different games over the last two-and-a-half years.
"The most important thing for the young players is to be in the starting XI and play, try to improve and be consistent -- to be a regular, playing games. It's not a moment to explain to different players that [they should] play in a different positions. The most important thing is to have the opportunity to play, to build with strong values and principles his career. We're very happy with him.
"From day one, he was a very important player for us. I always remember my first official game, he scored [against West Ham]. He was playing as a centre-back -- after the penalty, Kyle Naughton was sent off and he played as a full-back and scored an unbelievable goal like a wing-back! He's very young and improving every day."
Dier started as one of three centre-backs in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Hull City but he could return to the bench if Pochettino reverts to a back four against Burnley on Sunday.
Spurs will be without Erik Lamela, who returned from compassionate leave in Argentina last week but is still struggling with a persistent hip problem, and Vincent Janssen, who is nursing an ankle complaint. Mousa Dembele will be assessed for a persistent foot problem on Saturday.
"We need to assess him tomorrow," Pochettino said of the Belgian. "He's improving but we're not sure if he's available. We're happy. If not this weekend, be sure that in 10 days against Southampton he'll be available.
"Vincent Janssen has improved a lot but we're not sure. Erik Lamela is improving a lot but be sure this week he's out. It will be difficult for him to make Southampton but we'll see. He's improving a lot in ten days since Argentina but too early to say if he'll be ready for Southampton."