Mauricio Pochettino provides disappointing fitness update on Tottenham Hotspur’s Erik Lamela

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Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela has not featured for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in over a year.

Mauricio Pochettino has told Football.London that Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela is still not available for selection.

Lamela has missed a year’s worth of action with a hip injury, but has finally returned to training recently.

There was a feeling that the Argentine winger could have featured against West Ham United, in the less pressurised environment of the League Cup.

But Pochettino has confirmed that Lamela is still not fit enough to feature against West Ham.

“No, Erik is not on the list,” Pochettino said. “He’s doing well but still he’s not available.

“After one year [out], I cannot say tomorrow, one week or one month. It depends on his evolution.

“It’s the same process as Danny Rose, assessing him and trying every day to get the feelings.

“Then when he’s ready I will let you know about that, but still he’s not available.”

Lamela’s return to Tottenham will boost Pochettino’s attacking options, with the 24-year-old a favourite of the Argentine manager before injury struck.

Lamela’s work-rate allowed Spurs to press from the front when he was fit enough to play.

Whether Lamela will be in Tottenham’s first-team plans when he does return to full fitness remains to be seen, as Pochettino’s side have continued to develop in his absence.

The likes of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have gone from strength to strength over the past year, meaning Lamela faces a battle to break back into Spurs’ starting line-up.