Tottenham confirm double injury blow ahead of Dortmund clash but duo set to return

Tottenham welcome Borussia Dortmund to Wembley on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

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 including the latest on the fitness of several players.

Let’s start with the positive news and Eric Dier is set to return to the squad tomorrow night after recovering from a virus that kept him out of the win over Leicester City at the weekend.

In a double boost, Erik Lamela is also back in contention after overcoming a minor back injury that also kept the Argentinean international out of the 3-1 victory over the Foxes on Sunday.

However, Danny Rose was unable to take part in full training today after suffering a shin problem at the weekend and Pochettino has confirmed the full-back won’t be able to start against Dortmund.

Ben Davies has also been ruled out once again as he continues to overcoming a groin injury that’s hampered him in recent weeks so Jan Vertonghen or Kyle Walker-Peters may have to be deployed at left-back tomorrow night.

Harry Kane will miss the first leg against Dortmund as he’s still working his way back from an ankle ligament injury while Dele Alli is also still recovering from a hamstring complaint.

Pochettino is quoted as saying by Football London:

Pochettino on Rose
Impossible for him to start but will assess tomorrow if he’s available to be on the bench.

TEAM NEWS:

? @dele_official (hamstring)
? @Ben_Davies33 (groin)
? @HKane (ankle)

All three players are continuing rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/EdOcQUpX9Z

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 12, 2019

TEAM NEWS:

? @ericdier (virus)
? @ErikLamela (back)

Both players have returned to training with the squad.

? @vincentjanssen (ineligible) – unavailable for selection. pic.twitter.com/whKoYCi5FS

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 12, 2019

Vincent Janssen won’t be available for selection against Dortmund as he’s ineligible in the Champions League but Oliver Skipp and Victor Wanyama are expected to be named in the squad while Juan Foyth could also be involved after being added to Tottenham’s Champions League squad.

The north Londoners head in to the crucial first leg tomorrow night in excellent form so Pochettino will be quietly confident of securing a lead at Wembley ahead of the return leg in Germany next month.