Tottenham expect Erik Lamela to be back in first-team contention by the end of the year.

The 25-year-old Argentina forward has not played for the club for 11 months after suffering injuries to both hips.

Lamela underwent surgery on his left hip in April and then his right a month later.

He has continued to work on his rehabilitation since then - first in Rome and at Tottenham’s training base this summer - but there has been speculation over his future after he was left out of the club’s Champions League squad this week.

In Pictures | Tottenham's summer signings | 2017-18 5 show all In Pictures | Tottenham's summer signings | 2017-18 1/5 Davinson Sanchez Age: 21



Position: Centre Back



Nationality: Colombia



Signed from: Ajax Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/5 Paulo Gazzaniga Age: 25



Position: Goalkeeper



Nationality: Argentina



Signed from: Southampton Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 3/5 Juan Foyth Age: 19



Position: Centre Back



Nationality: Argentina



Signed from: Estudiantes Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 4/5 Serge Aurier Age: 24



Position: Right Back



Nationality: Ivory Coast



Signed from: PSG AFP/Getty Images 5/5 Age: 32



Position: Striker



Nationality: Spain



Signed from: Swansea City Getty Images 1/5 Davinson Sanchez Age: 21



Position: Centre Back



Nationality: Colombia



Signed from: Ajax Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/5 Paulo Gazzaniga Age: 25



Position: Goalkeeper



Nationality: Argentina



Signed from: Southampton Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 3/5 Juan Foyth Age: 19



Position: Centre Back



Nationality: Argentina



Signed from: Estudiantes Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 4/5 Serge Aurier Age: 24



Position: Right Back



Nationality: Ivory Coast



Signed from: PSG AFP/Getty Images 5/5 Age: 32



Position: Striker



Nationality: Spain



Signed from: Swansea City Getty Images

As he is not likely to be fit for the group matches, head coach Mauricio Pochettino was never going to include Lamela. However, clubs are allowed to make up to three changes to their squads by February 1 in time for the knockout stages.

Spurs are confident Lamela, who joined from Roma for a then club-record £25.7million in 2013 but who has started just 62 Premier League games, will make a full recovery.

In June, he wrote on his Instagram account: “I keep working every day to play again as soon as possible.”