Bergvall returns early to boost Tottenham ahead of Atletico tie

Lucas Bergvall has made a surprise return to full training two months ahead of schedule after ankle surgery, giving interim boss Igor Tudor an extra creative option as Tottenham prepare for their Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid. The midfielder had been ruled out until April but took part in full-team drills as Spurs look to overturn a heavy 5-2 aggregate deficit.

The early recovery caught the club’s medical staff off guard. Bergvall had been expected to miss most of the spring following the January operation, and his availability adds depth to a midfield that has struggled this season. Cristian Romero has also returned to first-team training after missing the 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

He had been absent following a head clash with team-mate Joao Palhinha during the first-leg defeat to Atletico — an incident Tudor described as yet more evidence of Tottenham’s "incredible" bad luck — and Romero will still need careful assessment under concussion protocols before a competitive return.

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