Benoit Assou-Ekotto is returning to Tottenham training this week.
The Cameroon left-back, 28. has been out for six weeks and faced going under the knife to clean out a "fragment" of bone.
But specialists decided he could be cured with rest and the international break has given him the chance to step up his rehab.
Assou-Ekotto will be assessed again towards the end of the week before returning to training.