Ben Davies could be available for Tottenham Hotspur against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday after returning to first-team training.
Davies suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on December 5. It means Ange Postecoglou has had to cope without three centre-backs over the last few weeks with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero struggling with injuries too.
Archie Gray, who prefers to play in midfield or at right-back, has started the last four games in all competitions at centre-back along with Radu Dragusin. Davies’ return will ease the pressure on Gray and Dragusin to start every game during this hectic festive period.
Postecoglou’s side have only won two of their last six Premier League fixtures and since the start of December rank bottom for goals conceded (12), shots faced (85), shots on target faced (37), expected goals against (14) and big chances against (25). Davies’ experience could be crucial in helping them to improve their form but Postecoglou wants to manage his recovery carefully and is unlikely to rush him back for Tottenham’s next fixture against Nottingham Forest on December 26.
“I just can’t risk any more injuries so my gut tells me that’s only two (training) sessions with the team before Boxing Day, so probably wiser to save him for the weekend,” Postecoglou said. “But the plan is to have him training and potentially be available.”
Davies enters the final six months of his contract with Spurs in January but The Athletic has previously reported that the club intend to trigger a one-year option.
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