Parker returns to Spurs action

Tottenham have been handed a major boost as midfielder Scott Parker finally returned to action following surgery on his Achilles.



The 32-year-old England international played the full 90 minutes of the reserves' 5-1 home defeat to Ipswich - his first game since picking up the injury playing for England at Euro 2012.



However, last season's Player of the Year at White Hart Lane will not be rushed back into action as Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas continues to monitor his progress.



Villas-Boas said: "We have players coming back to fitness and Scott can be so important for us. He was player of the season last year and we expect him to be one of our main strengths.



"He hasn't lost his abilities. Now we have resumed light training with him, he has been absolutely amazing."

Parker returns to Spurs action

Tottenham have been handed a major boost as midfielder Scott Parker finally returned to action following surgery on his Achilles.

The 32-year-old England international played the full 90 minutes of the reserves' 5-1 home defeat to Ipswich - his first game since picking up the injury playing for England in last summer's Euro 2012 finals.



However, last season's Player of the Year at White Hart Lane will not be rushed back into action as Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas continues to monitor his progress.



Villas-Boas said: "We have players coming back to fitness and Scott can be so important for us. He was player of the season last year and we expect him to be one of our main strengths.



"He hasn't lost his abilities. Now we have resumed light training with him, he has been absolutely amazing."


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Scott Parker back in training

Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker has returned to light training with the first-team squad as he steps up his recovery from an Achilles injury.



The England international has not featured this season after undergoing surgery on the problem over the summer.



Parker, who played a key role for Spurs last season after joining from West Ham, picked up the injury towards the end of last term before battling through England's Euro 2012 campaign.



Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas said on Tuesday the 32-year-old is beginning to rebuild his fitness.



"Scott's having his first training sessions and we're now looking to build-up his fitness levels," he told the club's official website.



"Not only that, it's important for a player who has been out to get a feel for his team-mates again, to stop training individually and get together with the group.



"We'll build-up his fitness and then we can look at the options for him."

Hogson may not rest midfield veterans

Roy Hodgson admits he will find it difficult to rest his midfield veterans despite concerns over their fitness.

Scott Parker failed to last 90 minutes against France on Monday, while skipper Steven Gerrard, 32, came into Euro 2012 on the back of an injury-hit season.

But injuries have left Hodgson with a lack of experienced alternatives, and both are likely to start Friday's Group D contest with Sweden.

The manager said: "Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard are both over 30 and had to work really hard. But I'm sure I'm not going to be the only coach wondering 'can they do it every four days?' about their players. That is what tournament football is about.



"I will have to assess the freshness of my team and see whether they are able to do that again.

"My gut feeling, if we have a good recovery day on Tuesday, a sensible training day on Wednesday and sensible recovery day on Thursday, is that it will be very hard for me to leave people out.

"If we said 'we're going to give you a rest because it's too much to play two games in four days', some of them would have us up against the wall."