Tottenham Hotspur could soon welcome back a long-term absentee, as Radu Dragusin edges closer to making his long-awaited return from injury.

Thomas Frank has not had luck with injuries since taking the reins at Spurs in June, as several key players remain in the infirmary. One of those is Radu Dragusin, who has not played since he suffered an ACL rupture on his right knee against Elfsborg in the Europa League in January. The serious knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the 2024/25 season and ended up taking away the momentum which he was finally building at White Hart Lane.

The Romanian international has been gradually building up his fitness. He returned to the grass last month is now taking a full part in first-team training, though Thomas Frank cautioned earlier in the season that Spurs would be patient with the centre-back’s recovery.

Tottenham rejected an approach from Romania manager Mircea Lucescu to call up Dragusin into the national squad to train and lift team spirit ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against Austria during the October international break. The Spurs defender was seemingly ready to team up with his Romanian teammates earlier this month but accepted the club’s...