Ball is in Pochettino’s court

Rangers will have to wait if they want to lure Tottenham youngster Dom Ball back to Ibrox this summer.

PA Sport understands Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has told the 20-year-old centre-back to report back to the London outfit’s Enfield training base for pre-season early next month.

The Argentinian plans to run the rule over the defender, who can also fill a holding midfield role, before deciding whether he is likely to figure in his plans for the new campaign or should be farmed out on loan again for the final year of his contract.

Both Gers boss Mark Warburton and Ball have previously said they would be happy to link up at Ibrox again next term after the youngster helped Rangers lift the Ladbrokes Championship title during his initial 12-month stint in Glasgow.

But a source close to the player told PA Sport there could be competition from clubs in England.

Ball had been forced to go on the road to gain first-team experience, with his route to Pochettino’s starting line-up blocked by Belgian international pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

Ball spent the second half of the 2014-15 season on loan at League Two Cambridge before moving north last summer as he and fellow Spurs recruit Nathan Oduwa joined up at Ibrox.

The defender made 30 appearances for the Light Blues, 24 of them starts.

Ball’s ability to anchor midfield was a key ingredient for Rangers as they held off Celtic to clinch a stunning victory in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Dom Ball: recalled to Spurs’ training base.