Tottenham injury news: Roberto Martinez allays fears regarding the extent of Jan Vertonghen's injury

Mauricio Pochettino has been handed a welcome injury boost as Belgium manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that Jan Vertonghen's injury was minor after fears that the defender had joined Tottenham Hotspur's lengthy injury list.

Vertonghen has been ruled out of Belgium's upcoming friendly against Mexico on Friday (10 November), and reports suggested that he had returned to London after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty. However, he has remained with the Belgium national team ahead of their home games against Mexico and Japan.

Spurs face a crucial clash against archrivals Arsenal immediately after the international break on 18 November and Pochettino already has a number of players nursing injuries which make them doubts for the game.

Victor Wanyama, Erik Lamela and Michel Vorm are long-term absentees and will not be part of the squad that travels to the Emirates Stadium. But the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Harry Winks remain doubts after picking up injuries in recent weeks.

Alderweireld and Lloris remain the major doubts as their injuries are more serious than the latter two of the quartet. The Belgian defender picked up a hamstring injury during Spurs' win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, while the French goalkeeper suffered an adductor injury in the same game. They were absent for the north London club's win over Crystal Palace just before the international break.

Alli also missed the game against the Eagles, but his hamstring injury is said to be minor. Winks, on the other hand, picked up the injury in the first-half against Roy Hodgson's team and withdrew from the England squad following an assessment with the Three Lions medical staff.

Vertonghen's inclusion on the injury list would have been a major blow for Pochettino going into the north London derby, but Martinez has indicated that the defender will be fit when they take on Japan in their second friendly on Tuesday (14 November).

"Jan Vertonghen suffers with his ankle and he will not play against Mexico, but he will be available for Tuesday's match against Japan," Martinez said, as quoted by football.london.

Tottenham will travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on 18 November in a lunchtime kick-off.