Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has revealed Toby Alderweireld is fully fit and ready to play for his country during the international break.
Alderweireld suffered a serious hamstring injury during Tottenham’s memorable Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Wembley back in November.
The defender returned in Ferbruary, but Mauricio Pochettino has repeatedly questioned his match fitness and refused to select him for a number of games.
He was handed a start in the FA Cup against Rochdale but looked far from fresh as the League One side took Spurs to surprise replay.
So it came as a bit of a surprise to see Alderweireld’s included in the Belgium squad for the upcoming international break.
But Martinez insists the 29-year-old is fully fit.
“Toby Alderweireld is completely fit after a difficult rehabilitation,” Martinez told Belgian newspaper DH (via ESPN). “As far as I’m concerned, he is ready to play.”
Danny Rose recently noted that being “match fit” at Tottenham is completely different from being match fit at any other club.
Players must meet Pochettino’s very high standards when it comes to fitness, and Alderweireld has clearly been falling short since his injury.
Of course, his absence from recent Spurs squads could have something to do with his ongoing contract dispute, which continues to drag on with no sign of a resolution.
