![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/football\/football-thumb\/football-thumb.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to full training but is still weeks away from being in contention to play first-team football.<\/p>\n
Bentancur saw his fine 2022-23 campaign cut short in February when he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee during a 4-1 defeat to Leicester.<\/p>\n
The ex-Juventus midfielder had been one of Spurs\u2019 best performers, scoring six times in 26 appearances last season and after eight months out he is close to a return, but will not be in the squad for Monday\u2019s visit of Fulham.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he won\u2019t be in the squad,\u201d Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be careful with him. Now he\u2019s sort of fully training, so that means he\u2019s into the whole session. We\u2019ve drip-fed him into training the last month and he\u2019s coped pretty well with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow he\u2019s into full training. We\u2019ve got to be mindful that he\u2019s missed a fair bit of football, but I think the more he trains with the first team over the next few weeks, we\u2019ll sort of pick our moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s looking good at training and it was great to have him for the last couple of weeks fully integrated with the guys who are here and we\u2019re looking forward to having him back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joint-leaders Spurs will have vice-captain Cristian Romero and skipper Son Heung-min available for the London derby.<\/p>\n
Romero suffered a whack to his ankle in Argentina\u2019s 2-0 win over Peru earlier this week, while Son was visibly in discomfort during South Korea\u2019s 6-0 victory against Vietnam, although did play the whole match and score in the friendly.<\/p>\n
No issues have been reported since the duo returned to Hotspur Way this week.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou added: \u201cIt has been a pretty positive international break. In terms of availability I\u2019ll start with the internationals first and everybody is back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe medical reports seem good so no real issue around the guys from a fitness perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying on a Monday night helps and all the international players should be fine but Brennan (Johnson) we will need to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson has not played for Tottenham since the north London derby at Arsenal on September 24 after he sustained a minor hamstring strain.<\/p>\n
The Wales international is training again and set to be in the squad against Fulham, but Spurs will be without Yves Bissouma after he was sent off for two bookable offences at Luton a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou also revealed Dejan Kulusevski is fine after speaking with the winger who was involved in Sweden\u2019s Euro 2024 qualifier at Belgium on Monday, which was abandoned at half-time following confirmation that two Swedish supporters had been killed in a shooting three miles from the stadium in Brussels.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he is fine. I had a chat with him,\u201d Postecoglou explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike everyone else we shake our heads at these things where you go to a football game and these kind of things happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is sad and kind of confronting how close it comes to your own world, but Deki is fine. He trained yesterday with the team and is ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n