Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld will both miss Tottenham Hostpur’s Champions League trip to face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, according to the club’s official website.
Spurs will also be without long-term absentee Erik Lamela, although manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was ‘happy’ with the 25-year-old’s progress after he played 60 minutes for the development side over the weekend.
It was the Argentine’s first action in over a year following a serious hip problem and he may be available for first-team selection in around a month’s time.
Wanyama has not featured since the second match of the Premier League season thanks to a knee injury but as of yet there is no timescale for his return.
Meanwhile, Alderweireld pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 3-1 win over Real Madrid at the start of November.
The centre-back has been a key member of Pochettino’s side since signing from Atletico Madrid in 2015, forming a strong partnership with Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence.
The Lilywhites are likely to be without the former Ajax star until the end of the year, although new signing Davinson Sanchez has performed well in his absence.
Tottenham lost 2-0 to North London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday and there are likely to be changes made for Tuesday’s visit to Westfalenstadion.
Wing-backs Serge Aurier and Danny Rose are expected to come in for Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies, whilst Harry Winks, who was fit enough only for a place on the bench at the weekend, could be restored to the starting line-up.
Son Heung-min may be recalled in attack; he scored in the 3-1 win over the same opponents back in September.
Spurs know that they can seal top spot in Group H by matching Real Madrid’s result against APOEL Nicosia.
That would constitute a remarkable achievement for Pochettino’s men, particularly given the calibre of opposition that they have faced over the past couple of months.