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Tottenham won't rush Erik Lamela back to first team after U23 return

Related Topics: Mauricio Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has played down an imminent first-team comeback for Erik Lamela after the winger finally returned to the pitch for the under-23s on Saturday.

Lamela, who has been sidelined with serious hip problems, last played in the League Cup against Liverpool 13 months ago but he has been back in training for a month, with Pochettino repeatedly saying that he is waiting for the 25-year-old to say he is "ready" to compete.

While Spurs were losing 2-0 at Arsenal on Saturday, Lamela started for the club's U23s in a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea at Hotspur Way, playing an hour.