Tottenham defender to miss Manchester City match

Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester City on Wednesday evening in a clash between two clubs that have battled significant injury setbacks throughout the season.

Over the past week, Ange Postecoglou has finally had the opportunity to work with his squad in a way that has been nearly impossible over the past three months.

Following their 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Tottenham had six full days to prepare for their trip to Ipswich Town, allowing the squad to spend valuable time on the training pitch at Hotspur Way, something that has been a rare luxury in recent weeks.

Postecoglou took advantage of this window by giving his players two days off before Tottenham’s impressive 4-1 win at Ipswich, a move aimed at helping them reset physically and mentally.

This period also coincided with the return of several key players from injury, strengthening the squad ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.

Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, and Wilson Odobert have all rejoined the first-team setup, providing Postecoglou with the ability to rotate and manage game time for players who had been overburdened due to the squad’s fitness struggles.

Tottenham now look to complete a league double over Manchester City after their stunning 4-0 triumph at the Etihad Stadium in November.

Injuries have been a persistent theme for Spurs this season, but the situation has improved in recent weeks. However, several key players remain sidelined, including Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Timo Werner, and Radu Dragusin.

The absence of Ben Davies, who was expected to play against Ipswich but was left out of the squad, added another unexpected blow. Archie Gray stepped in to partner with Kevin Danso in defense, and there has been no positive update on Davies’ condition ahead of the City clash.

Postecoglou addressed the injury situation during his pre-match media duties, stating that all players who featured against Ipswich came through unscathed, which was a significant boost.

He highlighted the importance of being able to rest key figures like Maddison and Pedro Porro while still managing to integrate players like Brennan Johnson and Destiny Udogie into the game.

While the squad remains largely unchanged for the upcoming fixture, Davies will not recover in time, though the week-long break following the City match could allow him to return thereafter.

Facing Manchester City in recent years has often been a daunting prospect for Spurs, with Pep Guardiola’s side dominating English football. However, this season, City have not displayed the same level of control that has seen them clinch multiple Premier League titles in the past four years.

Their vulnerabilities have been exposed by Liverpool and Real Madrid, two sides operating at the peak of their powers, and Tottenham must capitalize on their own resurgence to secure another statement victory against the reigning champions.

City’s struggles have been compounded by the absence of Erling Haaland, whose goal-scoring prowess has been sorely missed. However, perhaps the most significant loss has been Rodri, a player whose influence has been so pronounced that some have dubbed City “the Rodri team,” a sentiment Guardiola himself would be well aware of.

Without him, City’s midfield has lacked the control and balance that has made them so formidable, providing Tottenham with a unique opportunity to exploit their weaknesses.

With momentum on their side and confidence growing within the squad, Tottenham must approach this fixture with a belief that they can once again dismantle the Premier League champions.

Postecoglou’s side has shown glimpses of their attacking brilliance, and if they can replicate their performance from the Etihad, another three points could be within reach.