Sandro on the mend for Tottenham

Tottenham's Sandro admits he has yet to regain full confidence his abilities ahead of the new Premier League season.

While playing against Queens Park Rangers in January, Sandro suffered a horrific knee injury that kept him out for the rest of Tottenham's season.

Andre Villas-Boas' men missed out on a place in the Champions League, but Sandro has made his return to training in hopes that the new campaign will turn out differently.

The midfielder revealed to the official FIFA website that rehabilitation was still on the agenda, although he was looking forward to winning back his place in the starting line-up.

"The knee still needs to get stronger and learn how to move again, and I’m still not completely confident about going in for 50-50 balls," Sandro shared.

"That’s my strong suit after all: fighting for possession, defending and winning the ball back. That’s how I’ve got this far and how I worked my way into the Brazil team."

Fellow Brazilian Paulinho made the move to White Hart Lane earlier this summer and Sandro hoped that playing with the Confederations Cup winner would stand him in good stead to earn a recall into the national fold.

"Playing alongside Paulinho could be good for me but we’ll just have to wait and see. To be honest, right now it’s all down to me. If can get back to the kind of form I was in when I got injured, then I’ll get the call, which I think I would have got before," he said.

"I’ve lost time but now I’ve got a year in which to show I’m good enough for a place at the World Cup. There is pressure on me but it’s a nice type of pressure. After everything I’ve been through, I’m happy to be where I am right now, and all I want to do is play."