Tottenham have been handed a major injury boost as they gear up for the Europa League final this month – with one player set to return this weekend.
Spurs booked their spot in Bilbao on May 21 and will take on Manchester United after beating Bodo/Glimt 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the competition.
Ange Postecoglou has been forced to deal with several injury headaches over the course of the season and his side have slumped down to 16th in the Premier League.
However, they could end the campaign on a high by winning a first trophy since 2008.
The latest regular to be ruled out is James Maddison and the playmaker will miss the rest of the campaign after suffering a knee injury in the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.
But Postecoglou has been handed some belated good news with captain Son Heung-min expected to return to the fold against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Ange Postecoglou has been handed a major Tottenham injury boost this weekend
Spurs captain Son Heung-min could return to action against Crystal Palace on Sunday
Son’s availability is timely with the Europa League final in Bilbao rapidly approaching
Son has missed the past seven matches with a foot issue but his availability is timely.
‘Everyone got through OK the other night,’ Postecoglou said in his press conference.
‘Half-hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he’ll be the only one that sort of can come back in. I think what we do know about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch takes a lot out of the players – it’s fair to say they were sore.
‘I remember when we played Tamworth, we actually got a couple of injuries in the game straight after that, I think, because of the surface.
‘We’ve got to be careful about Sunday’s game, but next Friday it’s a bit different.
‘I think we’ve just got to make decisions we think [are right].
‘Ultimately we want to be in a great condition come the final, so we’ll use that.’
Postecoglou admitted he has found it difficult to manage the fitness of his players after the sheer number of absentees rendered his squad threadbare.
But winning a first trophy since 2008 would round off a rollercoaster campaign on a high
‘We have tried to navigate that for the last couple of months, particularly with Micky [van de Ven], [Cristian] Romero and Destiny [Udogie] to have missed a huge chunk of the season,’ he said. ‘When these guys come back you really have to manage them.
‘Romero and Micky had a couple of setbacks after coming back so we have to change our path and processes and part of that is just managing their minutes.
‘They need to get some game time before the final, though unlikely to be tomorrow.’
