Toby Alderweireld has been left out of Tottenham's squad again for Saturday's match at Stoke to place his future in further doubt.
Alderweireld was excluded from last week's 3-1 win at Chelsea and has not featured in the Premier League since October.
Sportsmail understands the Belgium centre back is not injured and manager Mauricio Pochettino does not feel his form is good enough to oust Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen from the centre of his defence.
Alderweireld's continuing absence, after the thigh injury that kept him out between October and early February, also leaves his place in Belgium's World Cup side World Cup in doubt.