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Erik Lamela has said his 13-month injury absence for Tottenham Hotspur was "probably the worst time of my life." Lamela made a long-awaited return to the Spurs first team at Leicester on Tuesday as a 77th-minute substitute, supplying a neat assist for Harry Kane's goal as the Londoners lost 2-1. "I feel good to be back on the pitch but disappointed for the result," Lamela said. "Of course, I can get much better. I am still not 100 percent, but I am good enough to play and I'm happy to be back." Hip problems kept Lamela out for around 400 days and required surgery on both hips, and he said: "It was crazy, it was probably the worst time of my life. I really wanted to play but it took too long, my injury. "In really bad times you always think the worst. But my family was always with me and the supporters wanted me on the pitch, they bring me energy to work every day and to never give up. "Today I'm here today because I really wanted it, and when you really want something you can do it. "The manager [Mauricio Pochettino] and all the staff honestly were amazing. They were always with me, behind me." Lamela's return was further delayed at the weekend by the arrival of his son, who was born on Saturday. Tottenham have slumped to fifth in the table, with both Liverpool and Burnley having a chance to leapfrog them on Wednesday, after losing to Arsenal and Leicester and being held at home by West Bromwich Albion. But Lamela said: "I believe 100 percent in this team, I know the quality that we have. "I believe we have a very, very good team and we will be better, of course. For me, it's only a bad week." Lamela, 25, Tottenham's record signing when joining in a deal worth £30 million from Roma in 2013, is out of contract in 2019 but would not allow himself to be drawn on trying to extend his stay. "I don't want to think about it," he said. "I am only focused on keep playing like tonight, recover for training tomorrow, and day by day."
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