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Tottenham truth: Pochettino needs to tell Erik Lamela to play

By Rucker Haringey

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Erik Lamela passes the ball during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 1, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Erik Lamela passes the ball during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 1, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Erik Lamela needs to play for Tottenham soon

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino keeps waiting for Erik Lamela to let him know when he’s ready to make his long-awaited return from injury. The truth is, it’s time for the Argentine gaffer to tell his countryman it’s time for him to get back into the mix for Spurs.

Pochettino continues to express uncertainty about when Lamela might see first team action again soon. He played 60 minutes for the U23 team last week, but was withdrawn after experiencing some mild discomfort. Tottenham officials insist there is at least some possibility he might feature against West Brom this weekend.

The time for asking Lamela his opinion is over. He’s missed over a year of action due to an injury (or injuries) that no one seems to understand. It seems fair to say that a significant portion of his current troubles are in his own mind. Pochettino has intimated his body is ready to return, but Lamela just doesn’t trust it to hold up against Premier League competition just yet.

If Pochettino continues to wait for Lamela to become totally comfortable, the Argentine attacker may never play again. Lamela can play like a beast out on the pitch, but he clearly isn’t a lion off the pitch. He needs tough love if he’s going to return anytime soon.

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Ordinarily, I’m all in favour of the club erring on the side of caution. Rushing an injured player back into the squad too soon can have disastrous effects. That isn’t what we’re talking about here. It’s obvious that the club’s medical officials have cleared Lamela to return to whatever level of action he’s comfortable with.

That subtle fact should give Pochettino the green light to provide Lamela with some aggressive counseling. I’m not saying he should throw him out there in the starting XI against West Brom, but there needs to be a clear timeline identified for his return. Lamela needs to have a firm idea of when Pochettino will expect him to rejoin the first team.

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The simple truth is that Erik Lamela has been out long enough. If he can’t be healthy enough to contribute again soon, it’s time to let him play somewhere else. Pochettino needs to tell him just that. It’s time for Lamela to get back on the pitch to help his teammates. His injury excuses have run out.

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