Jan Vertonghen has handed Tottenham Hotspur a major boost ahead of the new season by returning to training with the first team ahead of schedule.
The 29-year-old was ruled out for eight weeks at the end of June after suffering ligament damage in training with national side Belgium at Euro 2016.
Mauricio Pochettino revealed earlier this week that Spurs are not in the market for a new-centre-back, however, with Vertonghen closer to a return to full fitness than initially expected.
Spurs' official Twitter account has now confirmed that the 29-year-old is back in training, although he is following his own separate recovery programme at this stage.
📷😄 @JanVertonghen is making good progress. He joined the group for part of the session & has his own programme. 📷😄 pic.twitter.com/wxrMk8PEAd
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 2, 2016
Should Vertonghen miss out on Tottenham's opening Premier League fixture against Everton on August 13, then Kevin Wimmer will likely partner Toby Alderweireld in the heart of defence.
Daniel Lewis
