Defenders continue comebacks in Dagenham friendly

Kota Takai played his first minutes in a Spurs shirt with Radu Dragusin also stepping up his return to fitness in a training ground friendly for our Under-21s against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday afternoon.

Japan international defender Kota, 21, joined us in the summer from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale but plantar fasciitis and a subsequent thigh problem have unfortunately kept him on the sidelines since his arrival.

After working hard on his rehabilitation, he lined up alongside Radu and our Under-21s for a useful initial run-out against the Daggers at Hotspur Way.

Both defenders had their minutes carefully managed – Kota played the first half, while Radu completed 65 minutes before being substituted.

It was Radu’s second outing for Wayne Burnett’s side, after playing in a similar training ground friendly against Leyton Orient last month following his ACL injury in January.

Under-21s defender Maeson King also picked up some useful minutes in his first action since getting injured at the end of last season. Named in our first team squad twice last term, the 20-year-old left-back completed the second half against the National League South outfit.