OPINION
Harry Winks’ return to the Tottenham team coincided with Wednesday’s memorable Champions League triumph against Borussia Dortmund.
Any lingering doubts about the academy product’s place in the Spurs midfield pecking order were put to bed with his performance in Germany on a night when his side emerged triumphant after being tested to the limit.
Winks is now an undisputed starter in Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice Tottenham XI.
This was his fifth start in a row in the Champions League, and Pochettino’s eagerness to rush him back after he missed the north London derby with a hip problem, was a definitive sign of just how integral Winks is to his plan.
But a fly in the ointment has come with a report in Evening Standard of an injury relapse for the home-grown star.
It is said Winks left the pitch on Tuesday night, when he was replaced by Eric Dier 55 minutes into the second leg, after “tweaking a niggling groin injury”.
He is now a doubt for club and country for the rest of the matches this month, beginning with Spurs’ Premier League clash against Southampton on Saturday.
The Londoners will not then play again until they visit Liverpool on 31 March, although England have a European Championship qualifier double-header sandwiched in between, against the Czech Republic at Wembley on 22 March and in Montenegro three days later.
There will be concern among Lilywhites that Winks’ groin problem appears to have troubled him before, and that he could face a potentially lengthy absence.
The 22-year-old is emerging as a player Spurs can’t do without.