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HE’S BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
It’s been over a year since we last saw Erik Lamela in action for the Tottenham Hotspur first team, but it looks as though that streak is likely to come to an end tomorrow. Tottenham travel to Leicester to take on the Foxes tomorrow evening, and Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed via Spurs website that Lamela will be a part of Spurs’ match day 18.
"Good news - Erik has stepped up and is contention for tomorrow. Always in a very busy schedule you need everyone fit to help the team and that is very good news for the team.
"Of course, after more than one year, it's so important to start to feel again the emotion to play and compete.
"It's so important and of course I'm so happy because he is going to help the team a lot."
️ Mauricio delivers the latest on @ErikLamela ahead of tomorrow's @premierleague clash with @LCFC. pic.twitter.com/I5iVFnQnz9
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 27, 2017
Will he start? I guess I’d be surprised. But it sure looks like he’ll at least be on the bench and depending on how the match goes could be set for a late game substitution. He was supposed to be in contention against West Brom last weekend but had those plans scuppered with the birth of his first child.
As Spurs fans, let’s not set our expectations for Lamela too high, however. Coming back from a long-term injury like what he suffered is tough, and even when he takes the field it could be a while before he’s able to shake the rust off and get back to peak playing strength. Also, he and his partner just had a baby, and I know from experience what an incredibly draining thing that is! Even so, just having him back is going to hopefully give Spurs’ attack, which has looked a little anemic against Arsenal and West Brom, a boost.
Elsewhere in Spurs injury news, Harry Winks is “being evaluated” and could be a doubt for the Leicester match, which probably means an all-Mous(s)a midfield (MooseField™, patent pending) against the Foxes. Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld are still out of contention as they rehab from injuries.
For Leicester, Roberth Huth and Matty James are the only two players out of contention; both are expected back to the Foxes’ lineup by early December.