Tottenham attacker Erik Lamela has denied reports he is homesick and eager to leave the club, insisting his continued absence in Rome is solely related to a persistent hip problem.
Lamela has not played since October and he returned to his former club Roma, accompanied by a Spurs doctor, for treatment in the first week of January.
At the beginning of December, the Argentina international returned to Buenos Aires for a week after his brother was seriously injured in an accident.
A report in The Telegraph this week said Lamela is struggling to overcome the death of his dog, while other reports have claimed he is homesick and considering returning to Italy permanently.