Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks has stated that he is "feeling strong" after returning to first-team training following six months out.

The 22-year-old was a key player for Mauricio Pochettino last season but missed the majority of the 2017-18 campaign due to recovering from ankle surgery.

However, Winks came on as an 89th-minute substitute for Harry Kane in the 3-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, the England midfielder's first appearance since February.

"Obviously I had my operation but other than that, it's been pretty much the usual routine," Winks told the Spurs website. "Maybe I'm a little bit more relentless in my recovery after training and playing, making sure I'm still mobile and feeling good, but other than that it's just about putting in the hard work.

"I'm feeling good, feeling fit. My ankle is feeling strong at the moment which is good so as long as I manage it well and stay on top of it relentlessly, which I will do, then everything should be all good.

"In the Premier League there's so much competition so you have to be on top of your game. We have a great squad here and we all do that every week. From my point of view, it's all positive because we've got a good mood in the camp, a good mentality going into the season.

"It was really good to get back out on the pitch against Fulham – it's been a long time coming. I've been working hard over the last few months to get fit and get back out there and to do that, play back in the Premier League and see the team win, it's a great feeling."

Winks has made 62 senior appearances for Spurs, scoring once.