Tuesday 20 June 2017 10:50, UK
Tottenham forward Erik Lamela is expected to miss the start of next season as he continues to recover from a hip problem and he could be out until the winter, Sky sources understand.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery in early April after spending most of last season on the sidelines, and the total period of his absence could reach a full calendar year.
Lamela is the second Tottenham first team player to miss the beginning of their stint at Wembley. Sky sources reported last month that left-back Danny Rose is also on the sidelines until September.
Argentina forward Lamela's last appearance in a Spurs shirt was in October, as a substitute in the EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool.
Lamela's injury problems also coincided with a family incident back home and he was allowed to return to former club Roma for treatment with his previous physio in a bid to refresh his mind and body.
Spurs have no intentions to sell Lamela, for whom they paid close to £30m for in 2013, and he remains contracted for a further two years until 2019.
Earlier this year, manager Mauricio Pochettino laughed off suggests Lamela could leave the club this summer, especially given his physical impediment.
He said: "It's a player who has not played since October and all that he is suffering in the last four, five months - do you think that he is thinking to move? He is thinking to go to Italy? He is very happy here.
"It made me laugh, every time I hear all that in the media, because it is impossible for him, impossible for the club, impossible for his agent, impossible for his people to think about moving. Where?"
"Now he needs help. He needs us to help him in the next few months. The club was desperate to find the solution for the problems he has."
