Huge injury boost for Tottenham and Jose Mourinho ahead of Brighton

Tottenham will welcome back Eric Dier and Tanguy Ndombele for the visit of Brighton.

The duo did not travel to Belgium for the Europa League defeat against Royal Antwerp as they were rested, but they will return to the fold on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho will return to his strongest line-up after criticising the performance of his fringe players, with defender Japhet Tanganga (thigh) the only absentee.

Mourinho admits his side missed Ndombele during the 1-0 loss in Antwerp and highlights his turnaround at Spurs as his future looked bleak after a difficult first season at the club.

However, he has become an integral part of Tottenham’s side in the early part of the season.

“Tanguy felt just a little sign of fatigue in a muscular area and he was also protected,” Mourinho said of his absence in Belgium.

“Normally Friday he is training as normal and is ready to play Sunday, and to be honest we missed him – because he gives speed to the team.

“Thinking quick, thinking fast, moving the ball quick and fast, we missed him.”

Mourinho also confirmed Dier will be back in the squad.

“Dier had a little, no quite an important injury in the national team, couldn’t play a couple of matches for us.

“Played against Burnley, would be a risk to play Thursday, but I expect him to be fine for the next one.”

Gareth Bale banked another 58 minutes on Thursday as he builds up his fitness following a knee injury which delayed his second stint at Spurs.

Mourinho did warn, though, that Spurs cannot expect the same player that wore the shirt seven years ago.

“Seven years is a long, long, long gap,” he said. “So which player in the world is the same as he was seven years ago?

“Sometimes they’re not better or worse, they’re just different players. For example you look to Ronaldo and Messi, and compare them with seven years ago.

“They play in different areas, different positions. They transform their qualities to try and explore their qualities in other responsibilities in the tactical system of their teams.

“I think it happens with the majority of the players, so for sure he is a different player. He is improving, and hopefully he will be back to a better level soon.”

Japhet Tanganga is the only absentee through injury as he recovers from a thigh problem.

Brighton could have midfielder Davy Propper back.

Propper has been struggling with an Achilles injury but has returned to training this week and has a chance of making the squad.

The game comes too soon for forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh, though, and skipper Lewis Dunk serves the second of a three-match ban following his red card in the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.