Doctor: Tottenham player expected to miss individual training for 3 more months due to injury
Tottenham’s January signing Radu Dragusin faces a meticulous rehabilitation process following his ACL surgery in February, with medical experts cautioning against any rushed return for the promising Romanian defender.
At just 23 years old, Dragusin’s career trajectory now depends on Tottenham’s patience and the success of his grueling recovery program.
Sports medicine specialist Dr. Rajpal Brar reveals the defender remains in the foundational phase of his rehabilitation eight weeks post-operation.
“He’s currently focused on restoring basic functions – rebuilding strength, improving range of motion, correcting his walking gait, and developing balance,” explains the physical therapist.
These seemingly simple tasks form the critical building blocks for more advanced recovery work later this summer.
Dragusin’s Projected Recovery Timeline
| Recovery Phase | Expected Timeframe | Key Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Rehabilitation | February – July 2024 | Restore mobility & basic strength |
| Individual Training | July – September 2024 | Football-specific movements |
| Team Integration | September – November 2024 | Contact drills & match simulation |
| First-Team Return | November 2024 onwards | Gradual match involvement |
The psychological dimension of Dragusin’s recovery carries equal importance to the physical demands. ACL injuries notoriously challenge players’ mental resilience, requiring them to rebuild trust in their reconstructed knee when making explosive movements or challenging tackles.
Tottenham’s medical staff will carefully monitor both his physiological progress and confidence levels throughout each rehabilitation phase.
Dr. Brar emphasizes the importance of resisting temptation to accelerate the process: “The absolute earliest we might see him in individual training would be late July, but rushing that timeline could compromise everything.”
This cautious approach is particularly vital for a player whose aerial dominance and physicality form the bedrock of his game – attributes that demand complete knee stability.
Tottenham’s defensive depth fortunately allows the luxury of patience. With Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies available, the club can afford Dragusin the full recovery period his career deserves.
The medical team’s priority will be ensuring the £25 million signing returns not just to fitness, but to the form that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young defenders last winter.
As Dragusin progresses through each carefully structured rehabilitation phase, Tottenham will balance optimism with realism.
While November remains the tentative target for first-team involvement, the club understands ACL recoveries often follow their own unpredictable schedules.
One certainty remains – Dragusin’s long-term future at Tottenham will be shaped far more by how he recovers over these next six months than by any short-term comeback date.