Manchester United have been dealt a major blow with Ange Postecoglou hopeful of five injury returns for Tottenham ahead of their meeting on Sunday.
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- Light at the end of the tunnel for Postecoglou
- Five first-team players could be available for Sunday
- Maddison & Werner among the hopeful returnees
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Spurs have endured a difficult run of form, slipping to 14th in the league standings and suffering back-to-back eliminations from domestic cup competitions within the space of a week. With their Europa League campaign now their last realistic shot at silverware, the return of multiple senior players could be the fresh start they need.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
In a massive boost for Postecoglou, Tottenham could see as many as five first-team stars return to full training this week. Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Timo Werner are all edging closer to a comeback, providing much-needed encouragement for the north London side.
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WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID
Vicario has been out of action since November 23, when he sustained a fractured foot during Tottenham’s 4-0 triumph over Manchester City. Whereas, Udogie was sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw against Wolves at the end of December. Maddison’s absence has been particularly felt in midfield. The playmaker, missing for three weeks due to a calf strain, remains crucial to Tottenham’s creativity in attack. Meanwhile, Johnson and Werner have been out of action since mid-January. With their return on the horizon, Postecoglou could finally regain some flexibility in his forward line.
The Australian boss remained cautiously optimistic, stating: "We hope to have three, maybe four, players back in training this week, and potentially one or two more in the next couple of weeks."
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DID YOU KNOW?
While the potential return of five stars is encouraging, uncertainty looms over several other key players. Richarlison picked up a calf issue during last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool, and his availability for the United clash remains unclear. Additionally, defenders Micky van de Ven (hamstring) and Cristian Romero (thigh) are recovering at a slower pace, with no set timeline for their returns.
