Tottenham handed huge injury update in welcome boost for Roberto De Zerbi | OneFootball

Rodrigo Bentancur is in contention to face Brighton after returning from injury

Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to training ahead of Tottenham’s crunch relegation clash at home to Brighton.

The Uruguayan has been stepping up his recovery in recent weeks, though, and now looks set to provide a timely boost for Spurs ahead of their final six games of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi had provided a positive update on Bentancur before Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Sunderland last weekend, but said the 28-year-old was not fit enough to travel to the Stadium of Light.

Having missed out as Spurs slumped to their seventh defeat in eight league games against Sunderland, Bentancur joined training on Wednesday afternoon and is now expected to be fit for the visit of Brighton on Saturday.

Guglielmo Vicario had also been expected to return to fitness ahead of the Brighton game, having undergone hernia surgery over the international break.

De Zerbi said he hoped to have Vicario back early this week after Antonin Kinsky stood in for the Italian goalkeeper against Sunderland, though he was not spotted during training.

"Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he comes back earlier next week, but I don't know yet,” De Zerbi added ahead of his first game in charge.

Youngster Tyler Tingey, who has just signed his first professional contract with Spurs, did join the first-team squad.

Spurs are two points from safety and have already lost captain Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus to injury.

Romero has been ruled out until the end of the season with a knee injury suffered against Sunderland, while Kudus has suffered a setback in his recovery from a quad injury and could require surgery.

Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain long-term absentees.