Hugo Lloris hopeful of Spurs return in January

Tottenham Hotspur captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says he’s never spent this much time away from football. Lloris dislocated his elbow in a freak accident during Spurs’ home loss to Brighton in early October, an extremely painful injury that left the club in the capable hands of his understudy, Paulo Gazzaniga.

Spurs have been coy about when Hugo might return to the pitch, and Lloris has stayed quiet as well. However, he recently opened up about his rehabilitation with French media outlet M6 (via Football London), and he says he’s hopeful that he can return to the pitch in the early part of the new year.

“Everything is well. There can always be hazards, but my goal is to be ready for January. Whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end, I don’t know. In any case, I’ll take time to make sure I’m well healed and that I can come back in top form.

“I’m also using the time to regenerate myself. I’ve never been away from the pitch for so long, so it’s something new, but I’m treating it positively. I’m using this period to spend time with my family and my children.

”I’m in good hands and we’re moving forward calmly. Everything’s been done as it should have been. Now, we have to focus on rehabilitation, strengthening, gradually gaining mobility and confidence.”

It’s never good when you lose your club captain and starting keeper for an extended period of time. Frankly, Gazzaniga has done a more than adequate job as Hugo’s replacement this season, good enough that should his form continue there’s probably no need to rush Hugo back to the starting lineup.

I’m still of the opinion that Hugo is the best keeper at Tottenham Hotspur and should retain his #1 job, but it is nice to know that Spurs haven’t been struggling in his absence. Well, at least not in THAT part of the pitch.