Some of Tottenham's loan players have been getting regular minutes on the pitch over the past few weeks despite domestic football pausing for the World Cup in November. As it was business as usual in League One, Dane Scarlett featured heavily for Portsmouth in their quest for promotion.
Tanguy Ndombele was another to play a number of times with Serie A leaders Napoli having plenty of friendlies on the agenda to ensure they are ready to go once league action resumes. With football in France and Spain restarting over the past few days and Italy set to kick off again on Wednesday evening, the vast majority of Tottenham's loan players will be back in action and looking to impress.
So how are they all faring at present? football.london takes a look below.
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Destiny Udogie (Udinese)
Missing out on Udinese's final three Serie A matches prior to the break in play due to a flexor muscle injury, Udogie also had to sit out a handful of their friendly matches in December as they prepared for the return of football. Back in training with his teammates midway through the month, the youngster was an unused substitute in their 2-0 friendly win over Lecce before getting 64 minutes in their 3-1 triumph over Cremonese last Thursday.
Getting the minutes on the pitch he needed, Udogie will be hoping to feature on Wednesday evening against Empoli when Serie A returns after the World Cup and winter break. Udinese then travel to Juventus on Saturday evening.
Joe Rodon (Rennes)
Representing Wales in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Rodon made an early return to France with his country crashing out of the group stage following two defeats from their three games. The centre-back was in the Rennes squad for last Thursday's 3-1 defeat away at Stade Reims but he was an unused substitute.
Yet to feature in the league since the middle of October following suspension, illness and dropping down to the bench, the Welshman will be hoping his luck changes when Rennes host Nice on Monday evening.
Troy Parrott (Preston North End)
Parrott will be back on the pitch for Preston North End very soon after recovering from the freak hamstring injury he sustained when scoring the winner away at Norwich City in early October. Speaking about his striker, Preston boss Ryan Lowe claimed that Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Huddersfield Town could be a possibility, with the following week's encounter against Norwich his potential return game if he doesn't feature against the Terriers.
It will all come down to Tottenham giving their player the green light to play again, however.
“Troy is back on the grass now and continuing his rehab and we are putting finishing sessions on,” said Lowe, as reported by the Irish Mirror. “He is doing fantastically well. He has got a date in mind and I wish his date was the same as mine because if it was he would be playing.
“We have got to be governed by Tottenham as well because he is their player. He is due to be assessed by them in the coming days and if they give him the green light then he can push on. Hopefully we will get him back soon. It will definitely be in January.
“We are hoping for the Huddersfield game and if it is not Huddersfield then it will be the Norwich game. So that is a couple of weeks off. He is chomping at the bit now but we have to make sure that we do things right by him.”
Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)
While Parrott has had to be patient on the sidelines over the past couple of months, fellow Tottenham striker Scarlett has been getting minutes in the tank at Portsmouth. Missing out through illness on Boxing Day away at Exeter City, the 18-year-old was given the final 17 minutes off the bench in their 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Ipswich Town.
Named in the starting XI on New Year's Day against Charlton, the striker made way at the break in the 3-1 defeat. Given a rating of five out of 10 by The News, they wrote: "Had one clear cut attempt but struggled to get a real foothold in the game".
Scarlett is ineligible to play for Portsmouth against Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, meaning he will have to wait until next Tuesday to feature again when Pompey travel to Bolton Wanderers in the quarter-finals of the Papa John's Trophy.
Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)
Serie A may have been on pause since early November but Ndombele and his Napoli teammates had plenty of games during the winter break with friendlies against the likes of Crystal Palace, Villarreal and Lille. Ndombele featured heavily as a result and will now be raring to go against Inter Milan on Wednesday evening.
Making an impression at his new club following his loan switch from Tottenham, the talented midfielder will be looking for a huge second half of the campaign as Napoli eye Serie A title success.
Harry Winks (Sampdoria)
Winks is another player who desperately needs a big second half of the season after an injury nightmare since joining Sampdoria on loan. Failing to make an appearance for the Genoa-based club and having to undergo ankle surgery, the midfielder has continued to train away from his teammates as he looks to get back to full fitness.
Sampdoria need him back sooner rather than later as they face a fight for survival as they are currently seven points adrift of safety after 15 games.
Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)
Things are now starting to look up for Reguilon after playing 33 minutes of Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win over Elche last Thursday. Sustaining a groin issue back in April when he was at Tottenham. the Spaniard had to undergo surgery on the issue and it wasn't until the end of October to make Diego Simeone's squad for the first time.
A difficult past 12 months for the player, he claimed 2022 was the "worst year" of his life in an Instagram post on New Year's Eve.
“The worst year of my life is over," penned the left-back. “Unfortunately, this photo symbolizes my year. It has been a year of much pain, suffering, injections, surgeries and more surgeries. I haven't been able to do anything for eight months, while football is my life. I kept wondering when I would finally be a football player again.
“I am very grateful to those who have stood by my side during these difficult times. I also want to thank everyone at Atletico Madrid for their trust and the way they have welcomed me. I've felt loved from day one
“I am convinced that all those bad moments I had to endure have made me a stronger person. This will serve me well both in football and in life. The year ends in the best way possible, finally I'm back."
Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)
Lo Celso remains out with the hamstring injury that cruelly saw him miss out on Argentina's victorious World Cup squad. The midfielder may not have been part of Lionel Scaloni's 26-man party but he was present in Qatar during the final week of the tournament as he could be seen on the pitch celebrating their success with his international teammates.
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