Erik Lamela was back in first-team training for Tottenham on Thursday – and fans have taken to Twitter to hail his imminent return.
Spurs announced on their official Twitter account on Wednesday, accompanied by pictures, that Lamela and fellow long-term absentee Danny Rose were back in training.
Danny Rose and @ErikLamela train with the rest of the team at Hotspur Way today as they continue to progress with their rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/d1WMnKfXLz
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 11, 2017
Argentina international Lamela has been sidelined for nearly 12 months with a hip injury that initially left medics scratching their heads before he underwent double hip surgery at the end of last season.
He has not played for Spurs since the League Cup defeat at Liverpool on October 25, 2016, and, at one point, he needed to return to his former club Roma for treatment from his previous physio.
The attacking midfielder, 25, joined Spurs for a fee rising to £30million from Roma in the summer of 2013 and, according to the Daily Star, has a contract worth £70,000-a-week.
Following two difficult seasons, he established himself under Mauricio Pochettino and was a key member of the first team when he broke down last autumn.
Tottenham fans are delighted to see Lamela back in first-team training and are looking forward to welcoming him back to the side.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Wow I’m glad to hear that Lamela and Rose are both back to first team training @SpursOfficial
— MAKOYA (@therealmakoya3) October 11, 2017
Wow, Lamela…it’s been sooooo long man https://t.co/JApGRDzelR
— Damilola (@Lewan_09) October 12, 2017
When you see Erik Lamela and Danny Rose back in training #thfc pic.twitter.com/YtjLTTzVxT
— James Pagan (@Pagan_Official) October 11, 2017
Lamela has got facial hair now… Its been that long since weve seen him ???????? #THFC #Spurs #tottenham https://t.co/MvGFT0Ga5v
— MrTHFC (@TottenhamMr) October 11, 2017
Lamela is basically a new signing for us when he returns. A real boost to the squad. TBH I had to google who Rose was???? #COYS
— Andrew Jenkins (@AP_Jenkins) October 11, 2017
best news i seen today tht @ErikLamela was back at hotspur way training! ???????? #coys #yid #lamela ????
— Yousuf makaveli ali (@yousuf1994) October 11, 2017
Lamela and Rose training with the 1st team. This is fantastic news! #COYS
— Paul B (@Pablo6005) October 11, 2017
I vowed not to cut my beard till Lamela returns – not long now #coys pic.twitter.com/UIOKX6yynQ
— TweetySpurs (@LliyWhite_thfc) October 11, 2017
Lamela lives!!! #COYS https://t.co/ax7udIv6Lq
— Mark (@Yiddomarkk) October 11, 2017
Can’t wait to have Lamela back, love watching him play???? Absolute workhorse #COYS #THFC
— Max Streek (@MaxStreek) October 11, 2017
How good is it to see Erik Lamela back in training ???????? #THFC #COYS pic.twitter.com/1cQo7rsgws
— Danny Heath (@TottenhamDan10) October 11, 2017