Tottenham injury update: Micky Van de Ven and Dominic Solanke latest return dates
Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping to field a nearly fully-fit squad as they gear up for the North London derby against Arsenal following the season’s first international break.
The start to their Premier League campaign has been a mixed bag, with Spurs showing inconsistency in their early matches.
They began with a frustrating draw against newly-promoted Leicester City, followed by a commanding 4-0 victory over Everton, only to be narrowly defeated by Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
As the season progresses, Tottenham’s schedule intensifies, with additional fixtures in the Carabao Cup and Europa League alongside their Premier League commitments.
These include games against Coventry, Qarabag, Arsenal, Brentford, and Manchester United. This demanding schedule will test the depth and resilience of Ange Postecoglou’s squad, making player fitness and availability even more critical.
One of the key players Tottenham will be monitoring closely is Micky van de Ven. The Dutch center-back played a crucial role in the matches against Leicester and Everton but sustained a knee injury during the latter.
Although he managed to finish the game, the injury kept him out of the subsequent clash against Newcastle.
Radu Dragusin stepped in to partner Cristian Romero in central defense, and Postecoglou mentioned that Van de Ven was close to being selected for the game.
The manager also emphasized that it was not a serious issue, and with a heavy fixture list ahead, giving Radu some game time was seen as beneficial.
Van de Ven did not join the Netherlands squad for their Nations League matches, instead focusing on his recovery, which suggests he is on track to return for the derby against Arsenal.
Another significant injury concern for Spurs is Dominic Solanke, their headline summer signing who joined for £65 million.
Solanke played the full 90 minutes in the season opener against Leicester but missed the games against Everton and Newcastle due to an ankle injury sustained at the King Power Stadium.
Postecoglou indicated that while Solanke was close to being involved against Newcastle, the decision was made to be cautious with him, given the busy schedule ahead.
It remains uncertain whether Solanke will be fit to face Arsenal, but his proximity to returning suggests that he could have some role in the upcoming match.
The situation is further complicated by the injury to Richarlison, who has been competing for a place in the attack.
Richarlison made late appearances off the bench in the matches against Leicester and Everton but was absent against Newcastle due to an injury sustained in training.
Postecoglou confirmed that Richarlison would be sidelined for a few weeks, making his return uncertain. Given the timeline, it is possible that Richarlison may not be available until later in the month, potentially missing the derby against Arsenal and the Europa League match against Qarabag.
As Tottenham prepares to host Arsenal, the fitness of key players like Van de Ven, Solanke, and Richarlison will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.
The North London derby is always a fiercely contested affair, and having these players available could make a significant difference for Spurs as they look to secure a positive result.
However, with the intense schedule ahead, Postecoglou may need to carefully manage his squad to navigate the challenges posed by both domestic and European competitions.
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