The 29-year-old midfielder sustained the injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea. After undergoing reconstructive surgery in August, he immediately began a lengthy rehabilitation process.
By early December, the England international had returned to light work on the grass at Hotspur Way for the first time since the injury, training individually with a sports science staff member and briefly greeting teammates before continuing separate drills. In the weeks that followed, he stepped up the intensity of his sessions, including ball work that saw him manoeuvre through mannequins. He has now rejoined full first-team training.
In a video posted on the club’s official Instagram account ahead of the North London Derby, the midfielder was seen getting ready to train alongside his teammates, adjusting his headband as preparations got underway. While he hopes to feature again before the end of the season, both he and the club are taking a careful approach to prevent any recurrence.
His steady recovery is a boost for Igor Tudor as he navigates a challenging spell at Spurs. The side has endured difficulties in the Premier League and faces a demanding end to the campaign.
Speaking about his early days in charge, Tudor said his focus is firmly on the work rather than the occasion, calling it an honour to be at the club but stressing that delivering for the team and supporters is what matters most. He also pointed to the squad’s injury problems, noting that at one stage only 13 players were available for training due to several key absentees.
Even so, Tudor underlined the need to foster unity and the right mentality within the group — a team ready to battle, work hard, and endure tough moments. He added that his initial training sessions have centred not only on tactical organisation, with and without the ball, but also on building the mindset needed to compete at the highest level.
