Erik Lamela seeks Premier League title and place in Argentina squad | OneFootball

Tottenham winger Erik Lamela suffered a hip injury in October 2016 that ended his season and didn’t allow him to return until November 2017.

Lamela is now seeking his first full season in two years and appeared very confident in Tottenham’s 4-1 thrashing of Roma in the International Champions Cup, starting and playing 77 minutes on the left wing. His delicious cross led to the the match-winning goal.

Now the Argentine has lofty ambitions ahead of the new season.

“My personal goal is to win a place in the team, as after the injury I was in and out. Obviously, there are a lot of skilled players and the competition is high,” he told Goal. “I want to help the team with whatever it needs, be it defensively, in attack or wherever. That’s what the most important thing is for me.

“For the team, the ambition is that we’re able to lift a trophy this year. We already know we can finish in the top four, but the truth is that third, second or fourth is the same. This team needs to win a trophy, whether it’s the league or a cup. There are a lot of competitions. Hopefully, we have the chance. It’s one of the goals: To play, that the team does well, that we can be champion and that I’m able to get back to the national team.”

The 26-year-old will likely take advantage of the thin numbers and get his much-needed first team action this pre-season.

Lamela was one of just a few of Tottenham’s stars to not play for their national teams during the World Cup this summer, with Spurs boasting more players than any other club in the semi-finals. Five players on England, three from Belgium, and World Cup champion Hugo Lloris were among the nine Tottenham players to reach that stage of the tournament.

Lamela hopes that he will be a part of Argentina’s 2019 Copa America squad, and with two goals in the final match of the Premier League season, the tricky Lamela of old may be emerging once again. His skill set is one that few Argentinians possess, however, he did not feature in Jorge Sampaoli’s plans in Russia.

“I think the injury played against me,” he said. “When I came back, it was very gradual. I was going back and forth between playing as a starter and as a substitute. First I came in for a few minutes, then a little more. Last year, I think I only played three months with continuity, and maybe that wasn’t enough. The manager decided to take players who came in with a more competitive rhythm than I had in the last year.”

While Tottenham boasts a plethora of attacking options, he’s developed a strong relationship with fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino. This bond led him to sign a four-year contract extension earlier this month.

“Obviously I get along with him really well. He’s made it possible for me to stay so many years,” Lamela said of the manager. “I think it’s been four years since I’ve met him, and the team has changed a lot since he took over. I think he’s had a lot to do with that. I think he gets along with the rest of my teammates as well, and he’s really important for the team to be where it is today.”

Looking past personal ambitions, Lamela is keen on delivering silverware to the new White Hart Lane, something they haven’t achieved since winning the 2007-08 League Cup a decade ago.

“Hopefully the team is able to win something. I think the team deserves it, as we’re always right there. We’re missing that one last touch, but hopefully this year it happens and we’re able to fight from the start of the tournament because after that it’s too late.”