Monday 16 October 2017 20:09, UK
Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele have handed Tottenham a lift ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid by travelling with the squad to Spain.
The pair have been out for some time with injury but both are in contention for the third Group H clash at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The return of Rose, who has been missing since January with a serious knee injury, is a timely one with Ben Davies having failed to recover from illness in time, but boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Rose is not ready to start the match.
He said: "To play tomorrow from the start, no (he is not ready). Maybe on the bench. We need to decide.
"He's been training the last few weeks, he's excited and motivated. It's so good for him and the group to be involved in the group, like Dembele too."
Davies missed Saturday's Premier League victory over Bournemouth on Saturday and was replaced at left-back by centre-back Jan Vertonghen, who has been backed by Toby Alderweireld to continue in the position if required.
"I think Jan showed that, if the manager wants him there, he can play there. So it's no problem I think," Alderweireld said.
Dembele, meanwhile, has been missing since the EFL Cup win over Barnsley at Wembley because of an ankle problem, and his absence has allowed academy graduate Harry Winks to thrive in central midfield alongside Eric Dier.
Both Rose and Dembele will attempt to force their way into the side in Spurs' final training session at the Bernabeu on Monday night.
Georges Kevin-N'Koudou is out, however, after suffering a concussion in stoppage-time against the Cherries, while Victor Wanyama also remains absent with a knee problem.
