Harry Winks is closing in on a return to first-team training and hopes to figure in Tottenham’s run-in.

The midfielder has struggled with ankle difficulties for more than half the season, restricting him to three FA Cup appearances in 2018, and recently spent time with specialists in Qatar in an attempt to solve the problems.

The club are satisfied Winks does not require surgery and the 22-year-old hopes to resume training as soon as possible.

Mauricio Pochettino is usually cautious about bringing back those who have had significant injury absences, emphasising that being fit to train is different from being fit to play.

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Spurs have four games remaining, starting against Watford at Wembley on Monday. They travel to West Brom five days later, before completing their campaign with home fixtures against Newcastle and Leicester.

During the early weeks of the season, Winks was a revelation. He was excellent on his England debut, against Lithuania last October, and looked nailed-on at that stage for a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

Although the injuries have seen Winks slip down the pecking order, he is still rated highly by Southgate, who has followed his rehabilitation closely.