• Rose has not played since 31 January because of knee injury • Lamela’s hip problem has kept him out of action since October 2016

Danny Rose and Erik Lamela have returned to training with the Tottenham Hotspur squad as they step up their comebacks from long-term injuries.

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Rose last played on 31 January, when he damaged the medial ligaments in his left knee in the 0-0 draw at Sunderland while Lamela’s previous appearance came in the 2-1 EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool on 25 October of last year. His hip problems have taken far longer to resolve than could conceivably have been expected.

Both players were in form at the time of their injuries and the manager, Mauricio Pochettino, will now hope that the latest step in their rehabilitation programmes passes without further set-back.

Caution has been the watchword for both of them, with Tottenham’s medical staff having adopted a day-by-day approach. But neither will be ready for first-team football for at least another few weeks.