With Spurs gearing up for a daunting Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend, the latest injury updates from manager Ange Postecoglou have revealed when Micky Van de Ven could return to the starting XI.
Tottenham’s Defensive Crisis
Ange Postecoglou has had a busy week ahead of Tottenham’s crucial away fixture at the Etihad Stadium, where his side will go head-to-head against a wounded Manchester City team.
Alongside their inconsistent start to the season, Spurs have found themselves navigating a series of injury concerns, particularly in defence. With both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero currently sidelined for Spurs, Postecoglou’s options are limited as he looks to solidify his backline this weekend.
Romero, who is a key part of Tottenham’s defence, suffered a foot injury in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Although he was able to make a swift return for the home defeat to Ipswich Town, his international duty with Argentina has proven to be a more testing affair.
In their recent 2-1 defeat to Paraguay, Romero played just 45 minutes before being substituted, reportedly due to discomfort in the same foot that had already caused him issues at Spurs. This has left many wondering if the 26-year-old will be ready in time to face City.
Meanwhile, the absence of Micky van de Ven looms large, with the Dutchman suffering a hamstring injury in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup win over Manchester City last month.
Despite initial hopes that he might recover in time for the weekend, Postecoglou has shed more light on the current situation of his injury.
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Postecoglou Injury Update: Micky Van de Ven
In his most recent interview with Sky Sports as relayed by football.london, Postecoglou spoke on the injury situation surrounding his key players.
He said: “Happy for Cristian and his wife on the birth of their baby girl. He is still not 100 per cent so he is a doubt definitely for the weekend. Everyone else from the internationals got through well.
“Micky is still a couple of weeks away. He is on the grass training but he is still a couple of weeks away. We’re hoping by the middle of December he is back and available to play.”
The impact of these absences
With the absence of these two key players, Postecoglou will have to rely on alternatives in defence. Ben Davies and Romanian defender Radu Dragusin, who has struggled in recent games in the Premier League, are the next in line to step up. However, their experience and cohesion in such a high-pressure match will undoubtedly be tested against City’s relentless forward line.
The absence of these key players, combined with the defensive fragility Spurs might face, makes this fixture one of their toughest tests yet. If Spurs are to stand any chance of upsetting Man City, Davies and Dragusin will need to rise to the occasion and prove they have the quality to withstand the pressure from one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking forces.