Xavi Simons gives update on his recovery from knee injury at Tottenham

Tottenham player Xavi Simons spoke about his recovery from a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury he suffered at the end of April that ruled him out for the rest of the season and a large part of the following season. He said he was improving and getting stronger day by day, but there is still no date for his return to team training.

Speaking to students in Oxford in late October, Simons explained that the injury had been mentally difficult, especially as he had hoped to help Tottenham and the Netherlands national team and had been close to featuring at the World Cup. He added that he had to watch the rest of the season from a hospital bed and felt helpless and angry that he could not help his team.

He said he had tried to get through his rehabilitation by reading and keeping his mind stimulated, alongside physical work, stressing the importance of mental health. He noted that he trains for long hours with a team supporting him and wants to feel that his knee is strong before returning to play. Based on the usual recovery timetable for a similar injury, he could return to the pitch near the end of January, but it remains unclear when he will join Roberto De Zerbi’s team.