Alderweireld in line for Spurs comeback vs. CSKA

Joe Williams

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld will return for their final Champions League group game against CSKA Moscow.

But Pochettino said Erik Lamela will not be available as the midfielder has flown back to Argentina to see his brother, who is in hospital.

Alderweireld has been out for seven-and-a-half weeks with a knee injury, but is likely to be named on the bench at Wembley, where Spurs need only a point to secure third place and qualify for the Europa League.

If the Belgian comes through on Wednesday unscathed, Pochettino said he could start against Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.

“Toby will be involved in the squad tomorrow. We’re happy. He is recovering well,” Pochettino said.

“It’s important for him after two months to be involved in the squad. Tomorrow, maybe he will be on the bench, it is important for him to recover that feeling.

“Then we’ll decide if he will be in the starting XI or on the bench against Manchester United. It’s about performance, it’s about feeling, it’s about how we assess him.”

Lamela, however, is not available for the match against CSKA. The Argentinian has been out for six weeks with a hip injury and the 24-year-old has now returned home to visit his brother.

“Erik Lamela is still out. It’s important to send our support because he has a problem with his family in Argentina and travelled to Argentina last night,” Pochettino said.

“We want to send our big support to him and his family. He has a problem with his brother. We hope it’s not too serious, but it’s an issue that he needed to go to Argentina for.”

Ben Davies is back in training after an ankle injury, but needs more time to regain match sharpness, while Vincent Janssen is also a doubt with the same problem.