Ballboy’s part in goal praised by Mourinho

Jose Mourinho praised the quick-thinking ballboy who helped send Tottenham through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Spurs booked their place in the last 16 with a 4-2 win over Olympiacos as they recovered from 2-0 down in Mourinho’s first home game in charge.

After a woeful opening halfhour left them trailing to Youssef El Arabi and Ruben Semedo goals, Dele Alli got Spurs back in it before the young ballboy, later named by the club as Callum Hynes, took centre stage.

His speedy retrieval of a ball early in the second half allowed Serge Aurier to set Lucas Moura clear with a quick throw-in, and the Brazilian set up Harry Kane to make it 2-2.

Aurier and Kane then made it a comfortable night in the end for Spurs and left Mourinho not only boasting about his own past as a ballboy, but also the quality of the current one.

“To do that, you have to be a very good ballboy,” said Mourinho.

“I was between 10 and 16 years old, a very good ballboy and the kid is a very good ballboy.

“He understands the game, reads the game, he’s not there just to look to the stands, or to the lights, or to the scarves. He’s there living the game and playing the game very, very well.

“In the end, I wanted to invite him to the dressing room to celebrate with us, but he disappeared. I don’t know where he is but very good ballboy.”

Spurs defender Ben Davies is expected to be sidelined for an “extended period” after suffering ankle ligament damage in Saturday’s 3-2 win at West Ham.

Davies has made nine appearances in all competitions for Tottenham this season and also helped Wales secure qualification for Euro 2020 earlier this month.