Double boost for Thomas Frank as Tottenham duo return to training including long-time absentee

Radu Dragusin has returned to Tottenham training sessions following his long absence while Cristian Romero is back at Hotspur Way early from international duty.

Various Spurs players will begin filtering back to Hotspur Way following the international break but captain Romero is already back in training with defensive coach Matt Wells after a yellow card ended his time with Argentina. The 27-year-old helped his country keep a clean sheet on Thursday evening as Argentina won 3-0 in their World Cup qualifier against Venezuela at the Mas Monumental.

However, his country will now play away against fourth-placed Ecuador on Tuesday evening without him because the centre-back's yellow card, picked up in the 64th minute on Thursday night, was his second in three matches and means the Tottenham defender is suspended for the trip.

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Argentina's loss is Spurs' gain though because rather than Franknot getting his skipper back until just 48 hours before Saturday night's Premier League derby at West Ham United, Romero will instead get a full week of training ahead of the clash at the London Stadium.

Romero was joined by fellow centre-back and long-term absentee Dragusin, who has now returned to sessions with his team-mates following the long road back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in January's Europa League win against Elfsborg.

Ahead of the international break Frank had said of the 23-year-old: "Dragusin is on the way back and he's been running for a while. I think he should join the team in a week's time, 10 days' time, I think that's the thing, so that's positive, but of course it is an ACL. I'm always a little bit more, not worried, but just aware that it takes time.

"When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, you need to get in. It's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course."

Another centre-back in Spurs' summer signing Kota Takai is also expected to return to training in the coming days following the 21-year-old Japan international's struggles with plantar fascia in his foot since arriving in a £5million deal from Kawasaki Frontale.

Both Dragusin and Takai have been left out of Frank's Champions League squad after the Dane had to leave six players out due to registration rules.