Jose Mourinho will have to do without Son Heung-min over the festive period following his red card against Chelsea on Sunday evening.
The 27-year-old was dismissed just past the hour mark for kicking out at Antonio Rudiger and he will now be absent for the games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City and Southampton.
However, Tottenham will be hoping that isn't the case after appealing the decision to send him off.
Just under 24 hours after the defeat against their London rivals and the club were handed a big boost with the news that Erik Lamela has commenced integration back into first team training with the rest of the squad after spending time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Outstanding in the 5-0 Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade in October, the 27-year-old was initially expected to only be out for a small amount of time but he ended up spending two months out injured.
Lamela won't be thrown straight back into action by Mourinho on Boxing Day following his return, yet many will be hoping he can play some part over the Christmas fixtures in the absence of Son.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Wolves just over a week ago, the head coach outlined why he desperately needs the player back to full fitness.
"Been out for two months… not one training session with me. Never. I’m still waiting for his first training session. Hopefully soon," said the 56-year-old.
"I hope I can have him for Christmas. When I say Christmas I’m not saying Chelsea on the 22nd. But I hope maybe the 28th, first of January. I need him.
"If I am to play with more defensive players than I do and have only one or two attackers then I have two on the bench.
"In this moment with Dele and Son and Kane then we have not attacking players on the bench. So I need Lamela."
Only featuring in four games for Spurs in the final three months of the 2018/19 campaign, Lamela was expected to play a bit-part role for the team this term under Mauricio Pochettino following the additions of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele, as well as the other players competing with him for a place in the team.
A strong pre-season ensured he featured in his side's first 13 games of the campaign, with eight of those appearances from the first whistle.
One of the team's better performers at the start of the previous season, the Argentine once again impressed for the Lilywhites with three goals and three assists before injury frustratingly left him watching on from the sidelines.
It was an extremely cruel blow for the player who was sensational in his last appearance for the club in the drubbing of Red Star.
Mourinho has previously mentioned a lack of numbers in attack at Spurs and the return of the ex-Roma man to training has come at the perfect time for the head coach, especially with Son set to miss out on the team's next three games.
The new boss will have seen very little of Lamela during his short time at Hotspur Way due to his time in the treatment room but he does possess the qualities to be a key player under him.
A player with a good eye for a pass, excellent going forward and able to contribute in terms of goals and assists, he is also extremely hard working and impressive when it comes to the defensive side of his game.
Spurs could do with a bit of creativity going forward at present and hopefully the return of Lamela will give Harry Kane and Co the chances that they require to register wins in the race for a Champions League spot.
Lamela's return could not have come at a better time for his new boss and there is no doubt he can be a key player for Mourinho going forward providing that he stays fit between now and May.
