Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto is set to return to training for his side this week, after it was deemed that he does not require surgery, The Sun claim.

The Cameroon international has become a mainstay at left-back for the north London side, but has been missing in action for the last six weeks due to a knee injury.

The African full-back was thought to be ready to go under the knife, with an operation needed to clear out fragments of bone that were giving him discomfort.

However, specialists have deemed that rest would be sufficient for Assou-Ekotto to recuperate, with the problem now hopefully behind him.

Assou-Ekotto will return to action this week at White Hart Lane, and may even be in the running for inclusion in the side's next game against Chelsea on Saturday.

Spurs have been forced to use Jan Vertonghen at left-back, whilst Steven Caulker has slotted into the centre of the team's defence.

The return of Assou-Ekotto to full fitness will be a boost for Andre Villas-Boas, and allow him to reinstate Vertonghen to his preferred position of centre-half.

Assou-Ekotto was one of the first names on the team sheet in Harry Redknapp's tenure, and has proved himself as one of the most consistent performers in his position in the division.

The defender has missed competing for his country and has also not featured for Tottenham since the fledgling days of the new 2012-13 Premier League season.

Spurs are slightly light at left-back after Danny Rose was sent out on loan to Sunderland for the campaign.

By Gareth McKnight