Ange Postecoglou has provided an update on Micky van de Ven’s injury ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup game against Liverpool.
The centre back made his highly-anticipated return from injury in a 3-0 home win against Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday.
He had not previously featured for Spurs since their 4-3 defeat by Chelsea at the beginning of December.
Van de Ven, 23, was not included in the squad for the Premier League victory at Brentford on Sunday after being left out as a ‘precautionary measure’.
And Postecoglou on Wednesday confirmed Van de Ven will be absent when Spurs face Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Spurs will make their trip with a 1-0 lead from the first game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January when Lucas Bergvall scored the only goal in the 86th minute.
Ange Postecoglou has provided an injury update on Micky van de Ven ahead of the game against Liverpool
Despite playing him last week against Elfsborg, the manager confirmed the centre back will not be available for the Carabao cup semi-final second leg
When quizzed whether his starting players are available, Postecoglou said: ‘Kevin and Mathys are both available and have trained. The rest of them, no one available for tomorrow.
‘With Micky, and Romero to a certain extent, I feel like we’ve got to be a bit more conservative with them.
‘Micky got through the game alright, but I don’t think he feels he’s ready for that step up to the Premier League, the intensity of it.’
The Tottenham boss continued by adding that the club chose to be more careful of their players’ fitness after losing defender Radu Dragusin for the entire season as the Romanian tore his ACL last week.
Postecoglou admitted in the post-match press conference that the injury ‘doesn’t look good’ while awaiting doctors’ confirmation.
When asked if Van de Ven suffers from a fitness or discomfort issue, he said, ‘It’s a bit of everything.
‘He got through the game (against Elfsborg on Thursday) no problem, but we had a look at the figures, in terms of physical (output in the game) and he does a lot more in training, and he got through it okay.’New Spurs signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel will be available against Liverpool, while the Austrian has a high chance of appearing in the starting line-up.
New Spurs signings Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel will be available against Liverpool, with the Austrian defender having a high chance of appearing in the starting line-up.
Spurs newcomer Kevin Danso has a high chance of appearing in the starting line-up
Arne Slot will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Reds’ star came off injured against Bournemouth on Saturday
The Spurs manager must choose between Danso, Archie Gray and Ben Davies to form his two centre backs.
Tel, a deadline day arrival on loan from Bayern Munich after being convinced to join by Postecoglou, could go straight into the front three.
Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after the right back suffered discomfort during Saturday’s 2-0 away win over Bournemouth.
Connor Bradley is most likely to replace the 26-year-old defender.
But the Reds have been boosted by the return of Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
