Micky van de Ven's return hands Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou welcome injury boost

Tottenham have been handed a major defensive boost by the news key centre-half Micky van de Ven is back in full training.

The Dutch international has been sidelined since pulling his hamstring in the 4-1 defeat by Chelsea on November 6. Van de Ven, a summer signing from Wolfsburg, had begun the campaign in great form, helping Spurs to the top of the Premier League thanks to their best start to a season since 1960.

Speaking ahead of today's FA Cup third round tie with Burnley, boss Ange Postecoglou, said: "Micky has trained this week. I'm not sure about Friday's game, he might be involved in the squad. It is good to get him back but obviously he has missed a fair bit so we will have to be careful with him."

Van de Ven's absence, plus a combination of injury and suspension affecting his defensive partner Cristian Romero, has left Postecoglou with a patched-up back four in recent months and results have suffered.

Despite the various selection problems, there haven't been many minutes for former England centre-back Eric Dier, who has this week been linked with West Ham.

But Postecoglou said: "No idea. Not on my radar. [Dier] is contracted to this football club and he is in charge of his own destiny as much as anyone else."

Reports have linked the north London club with a move for Genoa's Romanian international defender Radu Dragusin, but Postecoglou added: "It's hard to say because I don't get involved in that.

"We have some objectives and aims and we're working towards that. People are working behind the scenes. My role in that is to provide guidance or clarity over which way we go."

Tottenham have won seven FA Cups and despite their lofty league position, the competition may provide their best chance of silverware this