Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he is excited for what the future holds after Tottenham Hotspur rounded off 2017 with a resounding 5-2 victory against Southampton.

The Lilywhites had Harry Kane to thank for the margin of their win, as the England international scored his 37th, 38th and 39th Premier League goals of the calendar year to set a new record.

Spurs have stuttered somewhat in the opening half of the season, but comfortable back-to-back wins have left them just six points off Manchester United in second and Pochettino is only looking up as 2018 approaches.

"The game was open; 5-2 but maybe [it could have] finished 7-4," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying. "It was a very nice game for everyone to watch around the world but, for a manager, a little bit tough because when it's so open, everything can happen.

"We are so ambitious, but I'm happy we finished the year in a good way. I'm looking forward, and hope that next year will bring us a lot of victories. We just want to win every game. The mentality is important for us to keep, this spirit, and then who knows what can happen."

Spurs return to action on January 2 with a trip to face strugglers Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.