Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has called for his squad to have a breather following their continued slump in form, which saw them held to a 2-2 draw at home by Wolves. Jorgen Strand Larsen's late equaliser thwarted Tottenham's hopes of securing their first win in three Premier League matches.
Despite falling behind, Spurs showed resilience as Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson turned the game around, with Johnson netting just before the break. This came after Son Heung-min's earlier penalty was saved by Wolves' keeper Jose Sa.
However, Wolves, still unbeaten under their new manager Vitor Pereira, levelled the score late in the game with Strand Larsen's impressive strike. Tottenham's defensive woes were highlighted as all four senior centre-backs struggled with injuries prior to the match, and now Destiny Udogie could be sidelined with a potential hamstring issue.
With a significant fixture against Newcastle on January 4 looming, Postecoglou emphasised the need for rest. "We're asking a lot of a small core group of players. The whole group probably needs a couple of days to get away and recover," he remarked.
"It has been really intense for a core group of players. It will do them good to go away with their families to recover with their families mentally as much as physically. I will keep going and look for help to get these players to perform at their best.", reports the Express.
Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, followed by a 6-3 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool prior to Christmas. This dip in form disrupted what seemed like a resurgence from Postecoglou's squad after they hammered Southampton 5-0 and confidently dispatched Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
Spurs are without key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven due to hamstring injuries, while Ben Davies is also sidelined with a similar issue and has encountered a setback on the road to recovery. Radu Dragusin brushed off concerns over a twisted ankle to be included in the lineup against Wolves.
The youngster was paired up with Archie Gray in defence, a player more naturally suited to right-back or midfield roles. Between the sticks and further upfield, the team is missing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and attackers Richarlison and Wilson Odobert for an extended period.
Postecoglou remarked, "It doesn't feel like we're getting a smooth run at anything. As soon as we get one back we lose one," highlighting the challenge his team faces due to persistent injuries. "But we have to get through it. We still have a lot to play for. With what's on the horizon we have to give them all the support we can to perform at their best."