Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela is recuperating in Rome
ByPA Sport
Updated 06/01/2017 at 15:48 GMT
Erik Lamela is frustrated at being Tottenham's only injured player and has returned to former club AS Roma to undergo treatment, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Tottenham's Erik Lamela reacts
Image credit: Reuters
Lamela is struggling to shake off a troublesome hip problem and has not played for Spurs since their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool on October 25.
The 24-year-old's recovery was then delayed in December by a family issue, which meant he spent one week in Argentina visiting his brother in hospital.
Lamela has since returned to London but has played no part in Tottenham's recent resurgence, including five Premier League wins in a row and Wednesday's superb 2-0 victory over Chelsea.
Pochettino first reported Lamela's injury, which was sustained in training, as "minor" at the start of November but is now reluctant to offer a timescale on his recovery.
The midfielder's lack of physical progress and mental frustration has caused Tottenham's manager to believe a change of scenery may prove beneficial.
"He went to Italy now. They need to change a little about the atmosphere, he has strong links in Rome," Pochettino said.
"Not only do we believe it's important to change a bit his mind, if not he asks to finish his recovery time there. The club and the staff believe it was right that situation.
"We hope that after that period he will come again and be available to start training with the team.
"It's always difficult for players who spend a lot of time more than he believe, and with the energy of the team sometimes he is frustrated he cannot be involved today as it's only him out of the group."
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Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min (L) and Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian midfielder Erik Lamela clash before Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian midfielder Erik Lamela takes a penalty during the English Premier League football match betw
Image credit: AFP
Lamela, who travelled with a Tottenham physio, moved to Roma from River Plate as a 19-year-old in 2011 and he made his name during two successful years in the Italian capital.
"He has a special link with physios and doctors in Rome so thank you to Roma for opening the door to him and recover the player," Pochettino added.
"We hope that in a few weeks maybe he will be available again to be involved in the training session with the rest of the group."
Lamela is Tottenham's only absentee but a number of key players will be rested for the FA Cup third round tie at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Vincent Janssen, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Harry Winks are among those likely to come in but Pochettino will also be keen to progress in a tournament that has seen Spurs reach only one quarter-final in six years.
Last season the Tottenham manager promised to sing a duet with chairman Daniel Levy if his team won the FA Cup and he made a similar pledge ahead of this year's competition.
"It cannot be the same because I think it is bad luck to say if we win we will sing on the pitch with Daniel," Pochettino said.
"Maybe we find another challenge no? Maybe I try to dance. Why not?
"Anything you ask me, if we win it or the Premier League I will do in the middle of the pitch, no problem."
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