CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN will be hoping that the next time a penalty shootout comes around that he can skipp it after Tottenham failed to repeat their spot-kick magic against Inter Milan.

The Dane missed from twelve yards for the second time this week as Mauricio Pocettino's side signed off their pre-season with defeat to the Italians.

Better news for Spurs is that right-back Serge Aurier and anchorman Eric Dier returned to training on Friday after missing their pre-season trips to the Far East and Germany.

But they were not ready to face Inter as Poch, despite his absentees, fielded a very strong line-up, including record signing Tanguy Ndombele.

The Italians, with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in charge, started with 17-year-old striker Sebastiano Esposito upfront.

Spurs took the lead after just 125 SECONDS when Erik Lamela played in Moura and the Champions League hat-trick hero emphatically fired his shot past Inter keeper Samir Handanovic.

Marcelo Brozovic hit the inside of the post for the visitors with a curling 25-yard shot before midfielder Stefano Sensi levelled with a cool finish in the 36th minute following a one-two with Ivan Perisic.

The second half was littered with subs and failed to get going.

Son had a 77th-minute shot saved by Handanovic before it went to penalties.

Spurs could not repeat their shootout win over Bayern Munich in last week's Audi Cup as Christian Eriksen and Oliver Skipp both had their spot-kicks saved.

More troubling for Poch is that Dele Alli is now a doubt for the start of the Premier League season after picking up his THIRD hamstring injury in under a year.

The Tottenham midfielder missed this International Champions Cup shootout defeat by Inter.

Alli was sidelined with a hammy for four weeks early last season. He was then ruled out for six weeks in the New Year with the same problem.

Spurs will discover the full extent of his latest injury today, but they fear he will not be fit for their top-flight opener at home to Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

That would be a huge blow for Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is already without defender Juan Foyth and striker Son Heung-min following their red cards at Bournemouth last season.

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