Sherwood thinks he's injured.
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/t...wood_explains_erik_lamela_s_absence_1_3290025
Tim Sherwood says he has no idea when Erik Lamela will be able to return to the Tottenham team as the club’s medical staff continue to assess injuries to his thigh and back.
Lamela is yet to play for Spurs in 2014, having made his last appearance as a substitute in the 3-0 home win over Stoke on December 29.
The £26million summer signing played for 57 minutes in a training ground friendly on January 7, but he is yet to return to the first-team squad.
Sherwood said: “He’s injured. He’s had a thigh injury and he’s got a niggle in his back. We’re still assessing him, along with Vlad Chiriches and Sandro. They’re the three who are not available for the weekend [against Everton]
“They [the medical staff] keep monitoring the situation and I keep asking from an update, and they keep telling me that we’ll just have to investigate a little bit further. Hopefully we’re making progress, I couldn’t put a time on it.
“Sandro is another one who’s unfortunately out at the moment. He has a calf problem and we’re hoping to get him back as quickly as we can.”
Mousa Dembele is fit to return against Everton on Sunday, and Younes Kaboul is also available, while Andros Townsend could also be back in action after missing the last nine games with a hamstring injury.
“He [Townsend] in the squad so we’re hoping that he’ll be in and around selection,” said Sherwood. “He’s done enough training now for us to be confident that he can be dropped back into the squad. He’s looked magnificent.
“Has he been missed? The results don’t suggest that he has, but I think whenever you’ve got a player like Andros, he can change a game in an instant.
“It’s great to have him back and we’re pleased to welcome him back to the squad - but the rest of the team has done very well over the recent period.”