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Mousa Dembele says he will never be 100 per cent fit – but will play through the pain for Tottenham
MARCO GIACOMELLI |
Focused | Dembele is managing his recovery from a foot injury to play on Tottenham Hotspur FC
Mousa Dembele has revealed he will never again be 100 per cent fit but says he is ready to play through the pain for Tottenham this season.
Playing for the first time since foot surgery in May, Dembele featured in Tottenham’s 4-2 win over Paris St Germain in the International Champions Cup in Orlando on Saturday. The midfielder impressed for an hour in the Florida humidity, showing no ill-effects from the operation on a long-standing problem in his left foot.
The Belgium international delayed surgery to help Spurs’ push for the FA Cup and Premier League title but he featured in just one of the final five matches of last term and missed the post-season trip to Hong Kong.
Dembele, who turned 30 this month, says the situation has improved but admitted he was playing at 70 per cent last season.
Asked if he would always have to manage the pain, Dembele said: “Yes. But I don’t think there are any footballers playing at 100 per cent, without anything wrong. All my career I’ve played with things - this was too much and that’s why I had to do something.
“The foot is okay [since the surgery]. In the beginning it was a bit difficult but I’ve a lot of training sessions behind me now and it gets better and better to be honest.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has refreshed his starting central midfield options in every season since joining the club.
This year, Dembele faces tough competition from Harry Winks and Joshua Onomah, the 20-year-old who helped England to win the Under-20 World Cup last month playing a central midfield role.
Dembele said: “The older players talk a lot about this, and we’ve spoken about Josh a lot as well. Everybody knows it, and I think of his generation he’s one of the best. It’s a matter of taking the last step I think. The hope for him is that it’s his year. He has the quality.”
MARCO GIACOMELLI |
Focused | Dembele is managing his recovery from a foot injury to play on Tottenham Hotspur FC
Mousa Dembele has revealed he will never again be 100 per cent fit but says he is ready to play through the pain for Tottenham this season.
Playing for the first time since foot surgery in May, Dembele featured in Tottenham’s 4-2 win over Paris St Germain in the International Champions Cup in Orlando on Saturday. The midfielder impressed for an hour in the Florida humidity, showing no ill-effects from the operation on a long-standing problem in his left foot.
The Belgium international delayed surgery to help Spurs’ push for the FA Cup and Premier League title but he featured in just one of the final five matches of last term and missed the post-season trip to Hong Kong.
Dembele, who turned 30 this month, says the situation has improved but admitted he was playing at 70 per cent last season.
Asked if he would always have to manage the pain, Dembele said: “Yes. But I don’t think there are any footballers playing at 100 per cent, without anything wrong. All my career I’ve played with things - this was too much and that’s why I had to do something.
“The foot is okay [since the surgery]. In the beginning it was a bit difficult but I’ve a lot of training sessions behind me now and it gets better and better to be honest.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has refreshed his starting central midfield options in every season since joining the club.
This year, Dembele faces tough competition from Harry Winks and Joshua Onomah, the 20-year-old who helped England to win the Under-20 World Cup last month playing a central midfield role.
Dembele said: “The older players talk a lot about this, and we’ve spoken about Josh a lot as well. Everybody knows it, and I think of his generation he’s one of the best. It’s a matter of taking the last step I think. The hope for him is that it’s his year. He has the quality.”
