Toby Alderweireld’s comments after Tottenham win suggests he’s ready for North London derby

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Toby Alderweireld seemed to come through Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup replay unscathed.

Toby Alderweireld explained to Tottenham’s official website in the wake of Spurs’ FA Cup win over Newport County on Wednesday night how hard he has been working to get back fit and how tough the last few months have been.

The Belgian had not played for Mauricio Pochettino’s side since being taken off inside the first 24 minutes of Spurs’ Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Wembley at the start of November due to a hamstring problem.

And after playing the full 90 minutes against the League Two side last night, Alderweireld provided a glimpse of what the previous few months have been like for the defender as he worked to get back to full fitness.

“I worked hard to get to this point, the last weeks have been tough and I’m pleased to get 90 minutes from the manager and to be able to help the team again,” he told the club’s official website.

If any other game was coming up this weekend, Pochettino would arguably be forgiven for taking the 28-year-old out of the starting lineup and looking to bring him on as a substitute. But with the North London derby on the horizon, Alderweireld’s comments should surely be exactly what Pochettino needs to hear to take a selection gamble.

The defender’s comments suggest that he is fully motivated to get back to his best as quickly as possible and will not take for granted any opportunities that come his way after a lengthy lay-off.

And with Davinson Sanchez enduring a fairly miserable afternoon at Liverpool at the weekend, Alderweireld clearly being fired up should surely convince Pochettino that it may be the bigger gamble leaving the former Atletico Madrid man out of the team for this weekend.