Tottenham handed boost as Xavi Simons nears return from ACL injury

Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Xavi Simons back to first-team training at the end of November, with the Netherlands international recovering ahead of schedule from a serious knee injury.

Simons suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Wolves in April. The 22-year-old missed the rest of the season as Spurs fought successfully to avoid relegation.

ACL injuries usually require about nine months of rehabilitation, but Simons has made strong progress and could resume contact training only seven months after sustaining the injury. His recovery has raised the possibility of a return to competitive football several weeks before the usual nine-month period is expected to conclude in January.

The midfielder’s comeback would provide a significant boost for head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who is expected to welcome the greater attacking options Simons would offer. The £52 million signing would also increase competition with James Maddison for the number 10 position.

Simons scored five goals in 41 appearances during his first season in north London. Although his campaign was inconsistent, he produced notable performances against Brentford, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

His first season at Tottenham was made more difficult by the need to adapt to three different head coaches. Maddison has also endured a lengthy recovery from an ACL injury, but returned earlier this year and scored on his first Tottenham start in 536 days during last month’s 3-1 victory over Coventry.

That result began a run of three consecutive wins for Tottenham, who will attempt to extend their momentum when they travel to Leeds United on Saturday.

De Zerbi will also have Rodrigo Bentancur available again for that match after the midfielder completed his suspension. Bentancur was sent off during Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Simons’ potential return would give Tottenham another attacking option during a period in which the club are seeking to build on their recent improvement. His ability to operate in the number 10 role could also allow De Zerbi to manage Maddison’s workload while maintaining competition for places.

The club will now continue to monitor Simons’ rehabilitation before deciding when he can take the next step towards a full return. His progress has already put him on course to rejoin his team-mates earlier than initially expected.