Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up for an all-English Europa League final against Manchester United in San Mames, Bilbao.
Their preparation has been marred by a string of untimely injuries, with Lucas Bergvall the latest name on the growing list of absentees.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed that the Swedish midfielder would not play any part in Bilbao’s showpiece event due to an ankle issue.
But Spurs fans have recently been handed a flicker of hope and optimism.
The injury bug bit Spurs hard on their road to the final, and Bergvall was the first casualty. He was ruled out ahead of the semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt after picking up an ankle injury in training.
Things worsened when James Maddison suffered a knee problem during that game, and just days ago, Dejan Kulusevski was forced off with a similar injury that required surgery.
Postecoglou provided an update this week, particularly on Kulusevski’s setback.
“Initially we thought it wasn’t too serious,” Postecoglou said (via the club’s official website).
“The medical team were worried structurally about how the knee was, but it blew up the day after, and we knew there was an issue there.
“He has had surgery, and it will put him out for at least a few months.”
Regarding Bergvall, there is speculation that he might be on the mend quicker than expected.
He was recently seen in a protective boot, but there has been some signs of progress. Postecoglou acknowledged those whispers but swiftly quashed any hopes of a surprise return.
“He has literally just got out of the boot and taken his first tentative steps on the grass, he won’t be available.”
Nevertheless, a clip posted on Tottenham’s official X account sent fans into overdrive.
The video showed fans meeting players after a training session, and Bergvall was spotted in full Spurs gear, signing autographs.
There’s a decent chance he trained on his own, but his presence on the turf was enough to fuel speculation that he could still make a late push for the final.
However, with just under a week until kick-off in Bilbao, it’s highly unlikely that Bergvall will be included in the travelling squad.