Mauricio Pochettino has been handed a Champions League headache after being forced to travel to APOEL Nicosia without seven stars — but insists he won’t cry about it.

Christian Eriksen joined the list of Tottenham's missing men after falling unwell overnight Sunday, and didn’t fly to Cyprus with the squad on Monday.

Mousa Dembele was also left at home after failing to recover from his ankle injury in time to make the Group H clash at the GSP Stadium.

Midfield duo Dembele and Eriksen join longer-term absentees Danny Rose, Erik Lamela and Victor Wanyama on the unavailable list.

Eriksen scored in Saturday's win at West Ham but has since reported ill (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

To further complicate matters and reduce his options, Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli are suspended.

Six of the seven would be starters in Pochettino’s likely first-choice 11, underlining just how much of a reshuffled side he will have to pick to face the Cypriot champions.

Alli serves the second of a three-game ban after being sent off against Gent last season... (
Image:
Reuters)
...and defender Vertonghen is suspended following his matchday one dismissal (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

But the Argentinean said: “I am not a manager who cries because a player cannot play. Of course, we miss the players who are ill or injured. You want everyone available.

“But it’s not an excuse to have some players out of the squad. We have a strong squad and this is a good opportunity to show it.”

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