After returning to training in the week, Erik Lamela faces a battle to win back his spot in the starting eleven.
Spurs’ Argentinian winger Erik Lamela returned to full training on Wednesday ahead of his return to first-team action for the first time since October 2016.
The 25-year-old signed for the London club from Roma back in 2013 for a fee of £25.8 million and has since gone on to make 119 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals for the club.
However, Lamela featured just nine times in the league for Spurs before a hip injury ended his season early, and despite returning to training in the week, the former River Plate wide man faces a fight to earn back his spot in the starting eleven.
With Mauricio Pochettino’s side switching to a 3-4-3 system with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen flanking Harry Kane up top, Lamela will be targeting Eriksen and Alli’s spots in the starting eleven as he nears a return.
Eriksen has enjoyed a stellar start to the season, averaging a goal or assist every 144 minutes so far this season so far and whilst Alli has had a somewhat disappointing start to the season in comparison to last season’s return, the former MK Dons midfielder has still looked a potent threat going forward.
Additionally, the Argentine will be competing with South Korean international Son Heung-min for a starting berth, who, despite netting 14 goals in 34 games last season, finds himself stuck on the bench this term.
This leaves Lamela around fourth in the pecking order, but with Spurs still in action in both Champions League action and Carabao Cup, the winger will have plenty of chances to impress this season. However, it’ll take a string of consistent cup performances to oust Eriksen and Alli from the starting eleven.
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