Ryan Mason is optimistic he will be able to feature in Tottenham’s Christmas programme despite suffering an ankle injury at the weekend.

The midfielder hobbled off close to half-time in the 2-1 win over Burnley with what appeared to be a severe problem, after he had fallen awkwardly trying to convert a pass from Christian Eriksen. He is thought to have been in considerable pain in the hours after the incident and was worrying about a long absence.

But Standard Sport understands that the damage is not as bad as the player and club first feared and that there is an outside chance Mason could be involved in the Boxing Day trip to Leicester – even though Spurs may decide to err on the side of caution.

Tottenham v Burnley - player ratings 11 show all Tottenham v Burnley - player ratings 1/11 Hugo Lloris: 8 Could do nothing about Ashley Barnes’ brilliant strike for Burnley and what he could keep out, he did with typical assurance. Kicking was strangely inconsistent. GETTY 2/11 Kyle Walker: 5 Looked to be feeling the pace after three games in 10 days. Less confident than usual going forward and struggled to keep his wingers at bay. GETTY 3/11 Federico Fazio: 6 Found it tough going against Ings and even though he did well in the air, his lack of pace and uncertain touch remain a worry for Spurs. GETTY 4/11 Jan Vertonghen: 5 Like Fazio, struggled against Ings, especially when the forward ran at him. This week Ings, last week Wilfried Bony: Vertonghen looks vulnerable against busy, tricky forwards. Getty 5/11 Ben Davies: 6 Lucky not to be sent off early for an awful challenge on George Boyd. Combined some decent forward bursts with some erratic work at the back. GETTY 6/11 Nabil Bentaleb: 6 Helped out diligently when Burnley pressed though needs to learn how to give more protection to his centre-backs – which, in time, he surely will. GETTY 7/11 Ryan Mason: 7 Did a tidy job in the first half at both ends of the pitch before he was injured trying to convert a pass from Eriksen. Sub (44 mins): Benjamin Stambouli 6. Lacks Mason’s mobility and Spurs missed the young Englishman in the second half. 8/11 Erik Lamela: 8 His best game for Tottenham, certainly in the Premier League. Although he lost possession for Burnley’s equaliser, his first league goal crowned a display full of menace, skill and verve. GETTY 9/11 Christian Eriksen: 7 Not as influential as in recent matches but just as Burnley sought to deny him space, it gave Chadli and Lamela more room for manoeuvre. Showed great presence of mind for the opening goal. Sub: Danny Rose (90 mins) 6. GETTY 10/11 Nacer Chadli: 6 Set up the opener for Kane after Eriksen – who was offside – had deliberately allowed the ball to run to him, and was often a threat on the counter-attack in the second half. GETTY 11/11 Harry Kane: 8 Amazing to think he couldn’t get a game in the league earlier this season. Adds touch, power and intelligence to a ferocious work rate, and scored his 14th goal of the season. Sub (84 mins): Roberto Soldado 6. GETTY 1/11 Hugo Lloris: 8 Could do nothing about Ashley Barnes’ brilliant strike for Burnley and what he could keep out, he did with typical assurance. Kicking was strangely inconsistent. GETTY 2/11 Kyle Walker: 5 Looked to be feeling the pace after three games in 10 days. Less confident than usual going forward and struggled to keep his wingers at bay. GETTY 3/11 Federico Fazio: 6 Found it tough going against Ings and even though he did well in the air, his lack of pace and uncertain touch remain a worry for Spurs. GETTY 4/11 Jan Vertonghen: 5 Like Fazio, struggled against Ings, especially when the forward ran at him. This week Ings, last week Wilfried Bony: Vertonghen looks vulnerable against busy, tricky forwards. Getty 5/11 Ben Davies: 6 Lucky not to be sent off early for an awful challenge on George Boyd. Combined some decent forward bursts with some erratic work at the back. GETTY 6/11 Nabil Bentaleb: 6 Helped out diligently when Burnley pressed though needs to learn how to give more protection to his centre-backs – which, in time, he surely will. GETTY 7/11 Ryan Mason: 7 Did a tidy job in the first half at both ends of the pitch before he was injured trying to convert a pass from Eriksen. Sub (44 mins): Benjamin Stambouli 6. Lacks Mason’s mobility and Spurs missed the young Englishman in the second half. 8/11 Erik Lamela: 8 His best game for Tottenham, certainly in the Premier League. Although he lost possession for Burnley’s equaliser, his first league goal crowned a display full of menace, skill and verve. GETTY 9/11 Christian Eriksen: 7 Not as influential as in recent matches but just as Burnley sought to deny him space, it gave Chadli and Lamela more room for manoeuvre. Showed great presence of mind for the opening goal. Sub: Danny Rose (90 mins) 6. GETTY 10/11 Nacer Chadli: 6 Set up the opener for Kane after Eriksen – who was offside – had deliberately allowed the ball to run to him, and was often a threat on the counter-attack in the second half. GETTY 11/11 Harry Kane: 8 Amazing to think he couldn’t get a game in the league earlier this season. Adds touch, power and intelligence to a ferocious work rate, and scored his 14th goal of the season. Sub (84 mins): Roberto Soldado 6. GETTY

It is a relief both for the player and head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has relied heavily on Mason since handing him his first Premier League start in September’s derby at Arsenal.

Mason has since made 12 league starts for Spurs and has quickly become a key man in midfield. The 23-year-old had his progress interrupted by injuries earlier in his career but happily for Tottenham, it seems this latest incident is not as serious.