There is plenty to be positive about for a number of Tottenham Hotspur's loan players as they look to get their careers back on track or continue to improve in 2023.
With the World Cup now in the rear view mirror and club football well and truly back, Spurs' group of eight loan players have been returning to pitches one by one, with some of them finally getting towards the end of frustrating injury recovery periods. The club currently have players out across Spain, Italy, France and the Football League and more could join them in this January transfer window if Antonio Conte decides they can head out.
So how are they all faring at present? football.london takes a look below.
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Destiny Udogie (Udinese)
The 20-year-old left wing-back is back in action after missing out on Udinese's final three Serie A matches prior to the break due to a flexor muscle injury.
He returned with an assist last week in the 1-1 home draw with Empoli, getting 81 minutes under his belt, and then on Saturday he played 69 minutes of the 1-0 defeat at Juventus.
After the game, Udinese boss Andrea Sottil praised the youngster in his press conference but explained what he still needs to improve on.
"He is extraordinary, he has to take care of the defensive phase and sometimes try to put fast balls in the middle without touching the ball too many times," he said. "Today he had a limited playing time, it must be managed because he had a delicate injury. We recovered him for tonight with a reduced playing time, but he has grown a lot."
Udogie has played 13 Serie A games this season for Udinese, scoring twice and laying on two assists from his wing-back position as he continues to develop ahead of his move to north London.
Harry Winks (Sampdoria)
Another Spurs player in Italy is Harry Winks and the 26-year-old midfielder had a big moment this season for him when he finally made a matchday squad for Sampdoria in Serie A.
The Tottenham academy product has had an injury nightmare since joining the Italian club on loan. Failing to make an appearance for the Genoa-based club and having to undergo ankle surgery, the midfielder had continued to train away from his teammates as he looked to get back to full fitness.
Sampdoria need him back sooner rather than later as they face a fight for survival as they are currently six points adrift of safety after 17 games and he returned to the bench as an unused substitute on Sunday for the 0-2 home defeat to Tanguy Ndombele's Napoli.
Winks posted on his Instagram account the following day: "After a long and very difficult time injured, was good to finally be with the team last night!"
Last month while recovering after his surgery, he told SampNews24: "At the moment, I feel good. I’m proceeding gradually with the recovery. In fact, it’s only been six weeks since my operation, so I need time to get back into shape.
“Now that I’m training separately on the field, I have the opportunity to see my teammates and have a comparison. I’m still physically behind them, but every day is a little bit more and for me, it’s a small win."
On suggestions his loan might be cut short, he added: "I absolutely want to play for Sampdoria. The last four months have been very complicated, for the team and also for me. Lots of bad luck. I’m working hard to come back, including holidays. It was and is frustrating not being able to play or train with the team, but I have to stay strong and aim for the goal, and I trust that I the next five months of the league, we will be able to do well."
Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)
Completing the hat-trick of Tottenham players in Italy is Tanguy Ndombele, who has been getting game time for runaway Serie A leaders Napoli.
The 26-year-old Frenchman has played 20 times for the Italian side in the league and Champions League although he has found himself in and out of the starting line-up, with a substitute role in the past three matches. He came on for the final 24 minutes of the victory against Winks' Sampdoria on Sunday evening.
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti could be heard at the end of the previous match, a 1-0 defeat at Inter, shouting on the pitch at Ndombele in English: "Why you stay there? Why you stay there?" and pointing to an area of the pitch before a heated discussion between the two men with the Frenchman trying to walk away.
Whatever the disagreement was about, Ndombele did get more than the 14 minutes he got in that defeat in the next match at Sampdoria so it would seem the two men then ironed out the issue in private.
Joe Rodon (Rennes)
Joe Rodon continues to wait for game time for Rennes as he spent another match as an unused substitute for the French side, as they won 2-1 at Bordeaux in the third round of the Coupe de France on Saturday.
The Welshman, who got plenty of experience at the World Cup last month, is yet to feature in Ligue 1 since the middle of October following suspension, illness and then dropping down to the bench.
Rennes are set to play Clermont away on Wednesday night before welcoming PSG on Sunday evening and Rodon will be hoping to get some minutes back in his legs.
football.london understands that if all parties agree then Rodon could return from his loan in January in order to try his luck elsewhere.
Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)
Sergio Reguilon is looking for a far more positive 2023 than 2022 and it's certainly started that way with minutes in three consecutive La Liga matches and time on the pitch in the Copa del Rey.
The 26-year-old began having a groin issue back in April when he was at Tottenham and he had to undergo surgery on the problem and it wasn't until the end of October that the Spaniard could make Diego Simeone's squad for the first time. He then needed to go to hospital with stomach problems after making his return.
Reguilon claimed 2022 was the "worst year" of his life in an Instagram post on New Year's Eve.
“The worst year of my life is over," penned the left-back. “Unfortunately, this photo symbolizes my year. It has been a year of much pain, suffering, injections, surgeries and more surgeries. I haven't been able to do anything for eight months, while football is my life. I kept wondering when I would finally be a football player again.
“I am very grateful to those who have stood by my side during these difficult times. I also want to thank everyone at Atletico Madrid for their trust and the way they have welcomed me. I've felt loved from day one
“I am convinced that all those bad moments I had to endure have made me a stronger person. This will serve me well both in football and in life. The year ends in the best way possible, finally I'm back."
However, the left-back is now on the road back and he got eight minutes from the bench in the 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona on Sunday after 14 minutes at Real Oviedo in the cup in midweek.
Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)
Lo Celso remains out with the hamstring injury that saw him miss out on Argentina's victorious World Cup squad. The midfielder may not have been part of Lionel Scaloni's 26-man party but he was present in Qatar during the final week of the tournament as he could be seen on the pitch celebrating their success with his international teammates.
Troy Parrott (Preston North End)
Parrott will be back on the pitch for Preston North End soon after recovering from the freak hamstring injury he sustained after scoring the winner away at Norwich City in early October.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe was waiting for the green light from Tottenham for the young striker to return to action and he got that this week.
"Troy has trained well the last four days. He has been given the all clear by Tottenham. Saturday [in the FA Cup] might come too soon for him and Robbie, who is back on the grass, but we have to be cautious with them," he said.
Preston return to action in the Championship on Saturday with the visit of Norwich and Parrott will be hoping to make his own long-awaited return.
Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)
Dane Scarlett was ineligible to play for Portsmouth against Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
The striker was not allowed to play against his parent club in the 1-0 win for Spurs and instead watched from the sidelines, coming down to the tunnel area to greet the players as they came off after the game. Son Heung-min was clearly delighted to see his young team-mate, hugging him and sticking around for a long chat.
There has been speculation that Scarlett will be brought back from Portsmouth and then loaned out again and he was not starting regularly in the final weeks of Danny Cowley's reign. Spurs will no doubt look closely at what comes next at Portsmouth before making their decision.
Pompey caretaker boss Simon Bassey said after Saturday's game: "I think it has been a good loan, certainly for Dane and us also. Obviously a young boy, but super talented. He is a brilliant kid, humble, hard-working, everything you look for in a top player.
"He will be a top player, I have no doubt about that. I see no reason that Tottenham want to call him back and if they do, I am sure we will take Harry Kane off them instead!"
Scarlett will be hoping to play tonight (Tuesday) when Pompey travel to Bolton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the Papa John's Trophy.
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