Erik Lamela motivated by Argentina return during career-threatening Tottenham lay-off

On form: Erik Lamela
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Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP14 November 2018

Erik Lamela says he was motivated by a return to the national team during a horrific 13-month injury, as he prepares to represent Argentina alongside two of his Tottenham team-mates.

Lamela feared he would never play again during more than a year on the sidelines with chronic hip pain but he returned to action in November 2017 following double-surgery. The winger has looked a far more decisive player since his return and his form was rewarded with a first Argentina call-up in over two years.

Lamela, who has 23 caps, last played for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in 2016 but he is set to return in the back-to-back fixtures against Mexico on Friday and four days later.

"I feel good. Playing for the national team is important for me – it was on my mind a lot in the spell I was out. My motivation was to play for my country," Lamela, who has scored six times in 13 Spurs appearances this season, told Standard Sport.

"It was one of the things that I was focused on – also playing for Tottenham. I hope when I go [to Argentina], I will play. I fought a lot to be back, it was difficult when I was injured. I always look from afar but now I am back and so happy that I am playing, not injured – although I keep my fingers crossed. This is the most important thing: playing and enjoying football.

"I watched the World Cup," he added. "I have a good relationship with the players and I was sad for them, as some players deserve to win something with the national team. The World Cup is the best tournament and I was sad for them and my country."

Lamela flew to Buenos Aires along with Spurs team-mates Juan Foyth and Paulo Gazzaniga, who have also been included for the friendly double-header. Foyth, 20, did not play after being named in the squad for the first time last month but the centre-half has since broken into the Spurs team and scored the winner against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

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Gazzaniga, meanwhile, is a surprising call-up, despite establishing himself as the club's back-up goalkeeper ahead of Michel Vorm. Before joining Spurs, the 26-year-old spent a season on loan at Spanish second division side Rayo Vallecano but he is now pressuring the club's captain Hugo Lloris after a string of composed performances.

"I am so happy for Juan and Paulo because they deserve to have a chance in the national team," Lamela said. "They are young and doing good so for me it is better, I like to go altogether and we are flying altogether. Paulo is showing every training that he can play in Premier League and when he played he did amazing, I am so happy for him but he didn’t surprise me because I know he is an amazing keeper."

Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs manager, has challenged Lamela to maintain his form for the entire campaign and the former River Plate star said: "I am confident. I was always confident even when injured but now I am trying to show it on the pitch.

"I am happy to be scoring goals but it is early. I needed to keep working. I need to keep my focus. The season is long. Players already have targets and mine is to keep my fitness and to do what I need to play – to always be available. I have a goals target for the season because if not, it is impossible to compete.

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