Dele Alli and Harry Kane among Tottenham quintet to return but Toby Alderweireld remains out

Tottenham Hotspur stars Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, Harry Winks and Michel Vorm have all returned to full training ahead of the north London derby with Arsenal on Saturday (18 November) and could be included in Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the trip to The Emirates Stadium.

Kane and Winks suffered knee and ankle injuries during Spurs' 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace before the international break, while Lloris picked up a groin problem during the Lilywhites' famous 3-1 Champions League victory over Real Madrid four days prior.

Attacking midfielder Alli, who scored twice in the win against Los Blancos, has been suffering from a minor hamstring issue while Vorm, who has only featured twice so far this season, was struggling with a knee complaint.

Tottenham boss Pochettino expected Kane to be fit for the trip to Arsenal but news of the quintet's apparent return to fitness before the trip to their bitter foes will no doubt please the Argentine, though he admitted a late decision will be taken on all of them ahead of the trip to face Arsene Wenger's side.

"I hope we can count on them for the game but we still need to decide between the medical staff and us," Pochettino said in his press conference.

Kane et al are encouragingly nearing returns, but Tottenham are still without two of their most important first-team players for the foreseeable future in Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld, whose hamstring injury seems to be worse than originally feared.

The Belgium international sustained the injury against Real and could now be out until after festive period. Wanyama, who has missed virtually the whole of the current campaign with a knee problem, is working outside but is still not ready to return.

"Toby is out. We need to assess him. He feels disappointed, a little sad. With this type of injury we must be cautious. We expect longer than previously. Maybe after Christmas is the expectation," said Pochettino, who will ask long-term injury victim Erik Lamela if he feels ready to play on Friday. "Wanyama we have to assess every day. He is doing well but we need to wait.

Some clubs may benefit from the rest the international break provides, but for teams with an abundance of players who play for their countries it can prove to be a hindrance, especially before a a crucial such as the north London derby.

Pochettino admitted the time missed with his players because of the international break was an annoyance but stressed that he was not using that factor as an excuse, with Arsenal and most other clubs all in the same boat.

"We are in the same situation, all the clubs," Pochettino said. "We don't have too much time to prepare for the game. I think in that case Arsene and myself, Arsenal and Tottenham, we are in the same situation. We have a lot of international players.

"They arrive yesterday and today. It's difficult to prepare for the game. Of course, that is way it's so important to sign the players from the beginning of the transfer market in pre-season, not at the end because this is the only time you have to prepare the team and provide them with the better tools for how you want them to play. I cannot complain about that though because we're all in the same situation."