Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has given manager Mauricio Pochettino a major boost in the run up to the return of the Champions League after returning back to full training after a lengthy spell on the side-lines.
And it could not have come at a better time.
After impressing in the first half of last season for the Lilywhites and picking up his first (and to date only) England cap against Lithuania in October 2017, things started to go a little array for the man tipped to make the plane to Russia after picking up a knock to his ankle against Crystal Palace a month on from his England debut.
It turned out later that Winks had fractured his ankle and from March, missed the remainder of the season.
However, now Winks is back in full training and close to a return, the timing could not have been better, especially after Spurs’ barren transfer window and the squad needing a fresh injection from somewhere.
The latest Tottenham news is that faces could still leave the club before the window slams shut and although Pochettino claims that no summer signings is no problem, few outside White Hart Lane (Or Wembley or wherever Spurs play these days) truly believe him.
Moussa Dembele is a man reported to potentially be out of the door before the window closes across the continent.
Dembele has been a loyal servant to the club but has now entered the final year of his contract and may fancy one last bumper contract away from the club at 31-years of age.
Inter Milan showed a genuine interest in the midfielder in the summer and reportedly were set to table a £12million bid which is far from Daniel Levy’s estimation.
However, the fear of letting the man who has played over 200 games for Spurs over six years (and remarkably never less than 35 games in season) leave on a free may force Tottenham’s hierarchies’ hand.
But fear not, because Winks could be the man to step into the breach after proving himself more than capable of mixing it with the very best.
This was proven when Tottenham met Real Madrid in last seasons Champions League at the Bernabeu and more than held his own in the centre of the park against seasoned superstars such as former Spurs man Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
The 2018/19 season looks set to be a career defining one for the Spurs youth graduate, just twenty-one league games in a season has been Wink’s best return to date but at 22, still has time on his side.
No signings mean Pochettino must use his full squad to the best of their capabilities but as defender Ben Davies has proven, if you take your chance when it is given to you, then it is possible to lock down a position in the starting line-up no matter who was in front of you before.
This mindset is no doubt something Winks possesses and if the first half of last season is anything to go by, Tottenham’s best piece of business this summer may well prove to be getting Winks back to full fitness.
