Good news, everyone — Gentle Ben is back! Ange Postecoglou confirmed in his pre-match press conference, which is still going on at the time of this posting, that the longest-tenured player at the club, Ben Davies, has recovered from his injury and is available for selection for Sunday’s match against Everton.
But there is bad news — in that same statement, he also noted that Yves Bissouma and Brennan Johnson are both either nursing knocks or are “sore” from the midweek North London Derby loss, and are questionable for the trip to Goodison Park. Ange also confirmed that Timo Werner, who sustained a hamstring injury last week vs. Tamworth, will be out for about a month.
“[There’s a] couple still sore from midweek. Looking to see how Brennan [Johnson] is, he’s had a calf complaint, and [Yves Bissouma] is a bit sore. Ben Davies should be involved. Timo [Werner] has got a hamstring tweak, probably three to four weeks.”
It does sometimes feel like Spurs are on a one step forward, two steps back kind of path this season, at least with regards to injuries. Yes, it’s fantastic that Davies has returned as he’s been steady and solid when called upon this season, and bringing him in alongside Radu Dragusin would allow Archie Gray to shift to left back, giving Pedro Porro a breather. But losing Brennan Johnson and/or Yves Bissouma would be a real kicker, especially since Rodrigo Bentancur is still out under concussion protocol.
Tottenham are already without Bentancur, Guglielmo Vicario, Cuti Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, and Timo Werner. Add in the potential absences of Johnson and Bissouma and it brings the number of first team players unavailable to Ange back up to nine. Just can’t seem to catch a break, can we?
Ange also spoke about the January transfer window, a notoriously difficult time to enhance your football club, but also one where incoming transfers would significantly help Tottenham as they continue to deal with their injury and fixture congestion crisis. Asked if he was “frustrated” by the lack of incomings, Postecoglou said that despite only bringing in a goalkeeper this month, the club is working hard in the window and that he understands this is a difficult period.
“It’s not frustration. It would be frustration and disappointment if the club weren’t working hard, but they are. It’s an easy word to say but I know how hard the club have been working behind the scenes to get something done, but it’s not easy. You need agreement from three different parties.
“Sometimes, when you’re in our situation, other clubs realize that and try to make the most of it. That’s why I was delighted to get [Antonin Kinsky] in fairly early. That’s helped us for sure, but it’s not for the want of trying so I accept that and I’m not disappointed or frustrated. I’m actually pleased at how hard the club is working.”
Ange was also asked about the failed loan bid for PSG winger Randal Kolo Muani, a player Spurs were interested in but who eventually chose Juventus. Ange suggested that things weren’t nearly as close in that transfer deal as we were led to believe.
“We’ve been interested and looking at a number of players but were we ever at the stage where we thought he was coming to us? No.”
Spurs are in the early slot for Sunday’s Premier League tie against Everton. Kick-off is at 9 a.m. ET, 2 p.m. UK. The match is televised on USA and Sky Sports.
