Jan Vertonghen steps up Tottenham return with individual programme after ankle injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen is making "good progress" as he steps up his return from injury ahead of the 2016-17 season.

Vertonghen, 29, tore two of three external ankle ligaments in training ahead of Belgium's Euro 2016 quarter-final showdown with Wales in June. The blow was expected to see him miss the start of the new campaign, but Mauricio Pochettino recently calmed those fears and did not rule out the possibility of the former Ajax star featuring in the first game of the season against Everton.

In an update posted via Tottenham's official Twitter account, the club explained the Belgium international has already started training with the group while also working on an individual programme to ensure he is back as soon as possible.

In his absence, Kevin Wimmer is expected to partner Toby Alderweireld at the heart of the Spurs defence for their visit to Goodison Park on 13 August.

Pochettino is both sufficiently satisfied with Vertonghen's swift recovery and his back-up options that he feels he does not need to recruit another option at centre-half this summer.

"Wimmer, Alderweireld and Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama can play centre-back. And then young players like Cameron Carter-Vickers and Dominic Ball, we have enough players in that position," Pochettino said.

Spurs have however dispensed of another defensive option deemed surplus to requirements. IBTimes UK understands Federico Fazio has completed his move to Serie A side Roma for a fee of €4m (£3.4m, $4.5m), ending his two-year association with the north London club.

The defender travelled to the Italian capital for a medical on Tuesday (2 August), ahead of completing the transfer. Once he passes the test, the Argentine will put pen to paper on a deal committing his future to Roma until the summer of 2019.