TOTTENHAM'S fitness crisis has suffered another blow after manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed illness in the camp ahead of their clash with Newcastle.
Spurs have won just one of their last seven Premier League games and are languishing down in 11th place.
They are already without a host of players due to injury including Richarlison, Mikey Moore, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
And Rodrigo Bentancur is the seventh player unavailable after being handed a one-match suspension for picking up a fifth yellow card against Wolves on Sunday.
Now even more of Postecoglou's men could be sidelined due to a sickness bug in the camp - though he has not specified which players have been affected.
Speaking at his press conference on Friday, the Australian coach said: "None of the injured ones are back yet.
"We've had a bit of an illness bug around the squad so a few were missing from training but we'll be alright."
One boost for Tottenham is the return of Djed Spence for their home game against Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.
Postecoglou has been criticised during his side's poor run of form.
And he admitted the disappointing results have had a negative impact on him.
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Following the 2-2 draw with Wolves, he said: "It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course, it hurts.
"When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy.
"I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts. So of course, it hurts. It hurts immensely.
"At the same time, it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it."
Newcastle are in superb form heading to North London having won their last five games in all competitions.
They sit fifth in the Premier League table, eight points clear of Tottenham.