Tottenham midfielder Alex Pritchard steps up return from injury ahead of new season

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alex Pritchard is making good progress in his bid to return from injury ahead of the new season.

Pritchard, 22, excelled while out on loan with Brentford in the Championship last season with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino promising him he will remain with the Tottenham first team during the 2015-16 season campaign.

His form last season earned him a place in Gareth Southgate's England Under-21 squad for the European Championship campaign in Czech Republic but lasted until just the second game of that ill-fated campaign after suffering an ankle injury against Sweden.

As a result, he has missed out on Tottenham's preseason trips to the US and Munich for the Audi Cup. But after a summer of recuperation the youngster suggests he is edging ever closer to a return after posting a video of himself looking sharp in training on Instagram.

Pochettino confirmed during a Q&A session on Facebook in May that Pritchard will be part of his plans at White Hart Lane next season.

Having also had spells on loan with Peterborough United and Swindon Town, Pritchard has taken a path similar to current first team players Harry Kane and Ryan Mason and believes he has earned his chance to replicate their success.

"Some players have two years with the Under-21s at their club and go into their first team because they get the chance or they're good enough already," he told the Premier League's official website in July.

"For me, I've played two years with Spurs' Under-21s and then had to go on loan to get my experience that way. Hopefully, now I can go and play in the Premier League.

"I feel like I've done my time in League One, done my time in the Championship and now it's time for me to get a chance at Premier League football."