Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier has said he is doing “everything possible to stay fit” after he made his long-awaited return from a thigh injury that has restricted him to just three appearances this year.Dier, 28, made his first appearance for Spurs in four weeks in the club’s thrilling 3-2 victory over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.Tottenham’s backline looked much more composed at the Etihad, with Dier helping the club to end a run of three consecutive league defeats in emphatic fashion.Dier and summer signing Cristian Romero played together in the league for just the second time following the appointment of head coach Antonio Conte in November, and the England international has said he is working hard to stay fit after initially rushing back from his thigh problem.“It has been very frustrating to not be able to take advantage of our winter break to take care of my thigh,” Dier said. “I came back and started training again after that winter break. It caused me problems again so I took a bit more time this time, given it’s actually the third time it has happened to me this season.“So I have bit more time and hopefully that will benefit me and my thigh and hopefully that will be the end of it now.“I am doing everything possible to be fit and (I) am obviously focusing on staying fit. Longevity in this sport is very important and something I am very focused on, so I am doing everything possible.” Dier also praised Romero, 23, who impressed with his performance against City despite conceding a penalty in injury time that almost secured the home side a point.Romero, who played on the right side of a three-man defence alongside Dier and Ben Davies, made seven clearances, two interceptions and blocked two shots in an action-packed display.The game was just Romero’s tenth in the Premier League since his summer move from Atalanta, following hamstring and knee injuries.“Cristian is a top player, a really good player and I think he is adapting very well to the Premier League,” Dier added. “He had a really bad injury so he’s obviously coming back from that but everyone can see he’s a fantastic player. “He came (here) on the back of already winning a Copa America for Argentina and being a standout player in Serie A. It's really enjoyable to play with him and he’s a very good guy as well.”(Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
