Harry Winks set for return to training, hopes to feature before end of Premier League season

It has been a 2018 to forget for Harry Winks. He seemed healthy at the beginning of the season, but his ankle problems returned as 2017 came to a close.

Winks missed the entire month of January, came back for a bit, and now hasn’t featured since February’s FA Cup replay victory over Rochdale. The injury keeping him out has lingered since he first went down with it against Burnley on April 1st, 2017.

The English international has most recently been recovering in Qatar, and now may be set for a return according to the Standard.

The midfielder has struggled with ankle difficulties for more than half the season, restricting him to three FA Cup appearances in 2018, and recently spent time with specialists in Qatar in an attempt to solve the problems.

The club are satisfied Winks does not require surgery and the 22-year-old hopes to resume training as soon as possible.

Spurs have four games remaining, starting against Watford at Wembley on Monday. They travel to West Brom five days later, before completing their campaign with home fixtures against Newcastle and Leicester.

It’s a shame that Winks’ return hasn’t come until this late in the season. He has shown himself to be one of Spurs’ brightest young players when he’s healthy and on his game. He was a revelation last season, and this fall contributed some quality performances in the Champions League group stage. Mauricio Pochettino really could have used him in midfield a few times this spring.

Had he stayed healthy he probably would’ve also been nailed-on as a member of England’s team that will head to the World Cup in Russia this June. His injuries may have robbed him of that chance, but if he can get back to full fitness relatively soon then it will give Gareth Southgate another option in an English midfield that is often chided for lacking creativity.

Even if he doesn’t feature again this season and his World Cup dream doesn’t come true, it’s still great news that he is feeling well enough to return to training. A summer of rest wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Winksy.

Rumors of a possible departure for Mousa Dembele have created some uncertainty in Spurs’ midfield going forward. Hopefully Winks can stay healthy. If he does, he’ll have a big role to play next season.