Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has allayed fears over a long-term injury to key defender Micky van de Ven, who picked up a knock in our last outing against Aston Villa.
The Dutchman went down with a suspected hamstring problem barely minutes into the second half, and Spurs fans have been holding their breath over the status of the centre-back.
After undergoing a scan on Tuesday, Postecoglou insists Van de Ven’s injury is nothing major and remains optimistic that he will not spend another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The news will come as a relief to Spurs fans, but the gaffer also ruled him out of contention for Saturday’s crucial London derby showdown against Fulham.
“We’re still getting all the information in,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports.
“Look, he’s unlikely for this weekend, we don’t think it’s anything major. We’ll probably get some information at the back end of the week, so [he’s] unlikely for Fulham.
“But with the international break, hopefully, it means he doesn’t miss too much after that.”
The 22-year-old Netherlands international has already spent over two months nursing a hamstring injury in the treatment room since the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on November 6.
He was outstanding at Villa Park until picking up the knock, and Radu Dragusin, who replaced him, is set for his first Spurs start at Craven Cottage since joining the club in January.
Fulham clash a must-win with fourth place up for grabs
Riding high after a dominant 4-0 demolition of Villa in Birmingham, a victory against Fulham this weekend could see us climb above Unai Emery’s side into fourth place.
This perfect scenario would provide a massive morale boost heading into the international break.
While history is on our side with a dominant nine-match unbeaten streak against the Cottagers (W8, D1) dating back to 2013, we cannot afford even the slightest hint of complacency.
Replicating the clinical performance that saw Son Heung-min and James Maddison lead us to a comfortable 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture is crucial to solidify our top-four aspirations.