Ange Postecoglou could be without four players when Tottenham Hotspur meet Manchester City. The Lilywhites will lock horns with Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad Stadium next week as the Premier League title race builds a head of steam.
Shortly before the international break, Spurs missed the chance to climb into the top-four after losing 2-1 to Ipswich Town on home turf. As for the reigning champions, they were defeated 2-1 by Brighton, at the Amex Stadium, gifting Liverpool a five-point lead at the top of the table.
While Guardiola made wholesale changes, Tottenham stormed past City in their Carabao Cup match last month. Postecoglou will be hoping to reign victorious once again in the English top-flight, but he could be without some big names for that impending showdown.
The first of which is Wilson Odobert, who's recently undergone surgery on a hamstring problem. The 19-year-old winger, who Spurs signed from Burnley for £30m in the summer, first suffered the muscle injury during a Carabao Cup tie against Coventry City back in September.
Odobert returned to action in October, only to aggravate that issue. When quizzed on the setback, Postecoglou said: "The only one missing out, which is a bit of a disappointment is Wilson.
"He's had a setback during the week and it seems like it's a serious one, so we're waiting for more information. It's not exactly the same [injury] but same area."
Then, on Saturday, Odobert provided an update on his injury on social media. The teenager posted a photo from a bed at The Princess Grace Hospital in Marylebone, London, along with the caption: "Thanks God."
Odobert then quoted a passage from the Bible - Deutéronome 31:8 by Louis Segond (LSG). That reads: "The LORD himself will go before you, he will be with you, he will not leave you, he will not forsake you; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed."
Micky van de Ven could also miss the City game with a hamstring injury. Addressing that problem, Postecoglou said: "Yeah, it will be after the international break. Exactly when will be dictated by his progress during that time. We will have to see."
Richarlison is also nursing a hamstring injury. When quizzed on the striker's return, Postecoglou couldn't put an accurate time frame on his absence. The Spurs boss said: "Richy, with his hamstring, he'll be out for a little while. We're still getting the final information, but he'll be out for a little while."
Fortunately, Tottenham haven't got anymore serious problems. Promising youngster Mikey Moore was omitted from their matchday squad that faced Ipswich Town before the international break, but he's expected to be back in contention vs City.