Thursday 18 February 2016 16:45, UK
Jan Vertonghen is lining-up his return for six-weeks' time to bolster Tottenham's Premier League title bid.
The Belgium centre-back has been out since January 23 with medial knee ligament damage, and has missed the last four games as Spurs have stormed towards the Premier League summit.
Vertonghen is targeting a return "around" the next international break, which begins after Spurs' home game against Bournemouth on March 19 and sees Belgium host a friendly against Portugal on March 29.
If Vertonghen is successful, it could put him in contention for Tottenham's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on April 2 - but will fight to return earlier.
Vertonghen said: "I'm aiming to be back around the international break and I want to be part of the team and help however I can.
"I see the team cheering in front of the away fans at Man City, I see them playing well at home to Watford or away at Norwich and it's hard because I want to be a part of the team. It motivates me to come back as soon as possible.
"The medical team always give you a time-frame to come back and the target of the injured player coming back is always to beat that time. I'm out of the brace now and I can walk again so I improve every day. It's hard work and it will take time.
"The lads support me a lot - they come and see me every day as well as the staff. I know I'm around the best people. The lads and the gaffer do everything to give me the feeling that I'm part of this team all the time."
Vertonghen suffered medial ligament damage during the 3-1 away win at Crystal Palace in an awkward fall after he was elbowed in the face by Connor Wickham - an incident for which the Palace striker was subsequently handed a three-match ban.
