Andros Townsend cashes in with new Tottenham deal

 
14 October 2013

Andros Townsend trained with England this morning in the knowledge that he is likely to sign a new contract with Tottenham when he returns from international duty later this week.

The winger has made a fine start to the season and maintained his excellent form on his full international debut, scoring England’s third goal in the 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Montenegro last Friday and earning the man-of-the-match award.

Townsend’s previous deal, which was due to expire in the summer of 2016, was worth about £8,000 a week — this contract will move him closer to the £18,000-a-week bracket and would run for two more years.

The agreement rewards the 22‑year-old, who has been on loan at nine clubs and only made his Premier League debut last season.

Townsend and the rest of the squad went through their paces at Arsenal’s training ground in London Colney as they prepared for tomorrow’s decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland.

England know that victory at Wembley will guarantee top spot in Group H and automatic qualification for next year’s finals in Brazil. Any other result will leave them destined for the play-offs because second-placed Ukraine are bound to beat minnows San Marino in their final match.

It is 20 years since England failed to reach the finals and Gary Cahill says the squad are anxious to extend that run.

The England and Chelsea centre-half said: “You have to make the most of these opportunities. You don’t want it to be on your CV that you failed to qualify for a World Cup. You have to give everything you’ve got. The thing for us is to start well against Poland. It’s in our hands and we have to win.”

Daniel Sturridge, who scored his first England goal in Friday’s win, is braced for a tense night.

He said: “We have to thrive under the pressure. It’s important for us to just play our football and not worry about any [other] results or the opposition. It’s about us and what we can do on a football field.

“I am not too sure if things have been made easier for us against Poland after coming through the Montenegro game. If we just play our game, I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

Although Poland cannot qualify, they will be cheered on by 18,000 of their fans at Wembley after the Football Association gave them above the standard 10 per cent ticket allocation for visiting teams.

Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski feels it will give his side extra motivation and said: “There are sure to be many Polish fans there. We want to thank them with a good game and the right result. It doesn’t matter that we only have honour to play for.

“Matches at Wembley are always very important to us.”

Striker Robert Lewandowski added: “We won’t be favourites but we want to at least allow our supporters a little fun.”

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