The 26-year-old signed a new deal with Spurs last week and reflected on his injury trouble and his aims for the 2018/19 season

Erik Lamela is determined to be an important player for Tottenham Hotspur this season and insisted he will continue fighting for the team over the next four years.

The Argentinean put pen to paper on a new contract last Friday which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

After making 154 appearances for Spurs since signing from AS Roma in 2013, the wide-man is confident he and the team will be ready for the Premier League opener on August 11 away to Newcastle United.

Speaking to the official club website, Lamela, 26, said: “I’m very happy to extend my contract with this club.

“It’s exciting to be playing for Spurs for four more years. I’m very happy to be here and ready to play for this team.”

He continued: “I love this club so much, I’m very happy here and also with my team-mates, we have really good relations.

“I’m happy to stay here for four more years and now I’m preparing to be ready for the first game and that is the most important thing.”

Since moving to N17, Lamela has netted 23 times and when quizzed on his personal targets for the upcoming season, the winger admitted he wants to score more.

Injuries have blighted his time at Tottenham to date with the winger enduring a tough first campaign at White Hart Lane.

Lamela played on only 17 occasions during the 2013/14 season, scoring once, before a back injury in December ended his term prematurely.

Mauricio Pochettino took over the following summer and immediately put his faith in the one-time River Plate youngster.

He was a regular in both the 2014/15 season - making 46 appearances and scoring five times – and 2015/16 term.

In the 2015/16 campaign, Lamela hit double figures for Tottenham, finding the net on 11 occasions during his 47 outings for Spurs.

But a hip injury in October 2016 was the start of a nightmare injury period for the Argentina international.

It would take Lamela over a year before he could make a competitive appearance in the Lilywhites colours again, but produced an assist on his comeback at Leicester City in November 2017 and featured for Tottenham 32 more times over the season.

Reflecting on his hip problem, he said: “It’s difficult to be injured, especially for a long time, but I never gave up and I always worked on it and everything is in the past now.

“I am just looking forward to be strong mentally and I think it helped me a lot and now I’m ready to play and especially to enjoy.”

He added: “I keep going and keep trying to do my best for this shirt and I think it is going to be a very good year for us.

“For myself, I want to be scoring goals, playing well, fighting for the team and everything I can do I will try to do. I am sure the team will be good this season and I think we are prepared for it.”