Premier League
Tottenham Team News: 3 Ruled Out But Poch Offers Positive Update On Duo
Mauricio Pochettino has offered a positive update on Toby Alderweireld but he’ll have to make do without three players this weekend.
Tottenham will look to get their Premier League campaign back on track with a win when they take on Stoke at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s offered a team news and injury update.
The Spurs boss was pleased to confirm that Danny Rose is available for selection despite suffering an eye injury during the Champions League win over APOEL in midweek.
Rose needed stitches to a cut during the 3-0 win but the full-back has been able to train on Thursday and Friday meaning he’s in contention to face Stoke tomorrow.
Pochettino also provided a positive update on Toby Alderweireld after dismissing reports suggesting the centre-back could be ruled out for up to 14 weeks.
Alderweireld is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and quotes circulated last week which suggested the player was facing months on the sidelines if a tear was confirmed.
However, Pochettino has played down those fears after confirming the injury isn’t worse than expected and insists the defender is recovering well during his rehabilitation.
It will be a relief to hear Alderweireld is on the road to recovery but Tottenham will still be without the Belgian international this weekend and their options at centre-back will be limited.
That’s because Davinson Sanchez is also unavailable as he’s set to begin a three-match suspension following his sending off against Watford last weekend.
Victor Wanyama is also still on the sidelines as he’s working his way back to full fitness following a serious knee injury that’s kept him out for most of the campaign.
Pochettino is quoted as saying by Ham&High:
“He’s [Rose] ok, he’s doing well. He’s training yesterday and today. He’s had stitches but he’s ok.”
“He’s [Alderweireld] doing well. I think someone misinterprets [what he said recently]. I’m going to clarify the situation.
“[Toby] said ‘if it’s the case that the injury was worse than it was, with surgery I would maybe spend 14 weeks out’. But it wasn’t the case.
“He doesn’t need anything more than to work hard and have treatment now from medical staff. He’s on plan, on time and he’s recovering well.
“We don’t need to be worried because we avoid, and he avoids, an injury that could maybe keep him out for a long time. I don’t know if I’ve clarified or if it’s worse now!”
Tottenham head in to the weekend action sitting sixth in the Premier League table but a win on Saturday would move them up to fifth and to within just one point of fourth-placed Liverpool ahead of their clash with Everton.
