Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has returned to training after spending the last three months on the sidelines with a knee problem.

The Cameroon international has featured just three times this season and last played in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Norwich on September 1.

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas had initially expected to lose the left-back for four weeks, with right-back Kyle Naughton and central defender Jan Vertonghen filling in for Assou-Ekotto during his absence.

The former Lens defender joked he had spent so much time away from the squad, he may have forgotten who some of his team-mates were.

He tweeted: “Trainning with the team today !!! I hope as I’ll remember the name of every one LOL.”

Assou-Ekotto, who featured 40 times in all competitions last season, has a goal to his name already this term after netting against West Bromwich Albion in August.