Destiny Udogie has missed Tottenham’s last two games with a quad problem
Tottenham Hotspur’s two-game winning run came to an end when they met Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League. They conceded six goals at home against the Reds, and there are massive questions to be asked of this Spurs team’s defence right now.
Several injuries to key players have played a significant role in holding the North London club back this campaign. Ange Postecoglou had as many as nine players unavailable during the 6-3 defeat to Liverpool. His troubles have piled up in the last couple of games with Destiny Udogie not featuring for Tottenham.
Destiny Udogie came off in the first half of the 5-0 drubbing of Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium with a suspected tight quad, which was later confirmed by Ange Postecoglou in his post-match presser. He subsequently missed the 4-3 win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals as a precautionary measure.
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Big Ange has been without the services of Destiny Udogie in the last two games
The Italy international returned to the squad at the weekend but was not 100 per cent to feature against Liverpool. As a result, he remained an unused substitute.
Speaking to the media ahead of Tottenham’s Boxing Day trip to Nottingham Forest, Postecoglou gave a positive update on Destiny Udogie. He told the club’s official website:
“From the [Liverpool] game, as far as I’m aware no issues. Destiny [Udogie] was on the bench, obviously wasn’t 100% but should be right for the next game.”
Having Udogie back and fit to start the game at City Ground would be a big boost for Tottenham. The young left-back hasn’t been at his best like several of his teammates this season but he is a mainstay in Big Ange’s defensive spine. The Italian has made 16 Premier League appearances, registering an assist.
Ange Postecoglou calms Tottenham injury fears regarding Destiny Udogie.
Destiny Udogie was taken off in the first half against Southampton with a tight quad
The 22-year-old not only can hug the touchline but also invert in midfield and help Spurs control the tempo of play. Under Big Ange, Udogie has largely operated as an inverted full-back, providing creativity and dynamism to midfield. Also, him being a crisp passer helps Spurs build up attacks smoothly.
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Going by Big Ange’s statement in the presser, the Verona-born talent is expected to start against Forest. But the main question is who he replaces in the starting XI. Djed Spence has been solid since making his first Tottenham start in the 5-0 win over Southampton. Udogie’s injury absence saw him move to left-back to allow Pedro Porro to start in his natural right-back position against Man United and Liverpool.
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Spence was one of the rare bright spots for Spurs in the big defeat to Liverpool, so we could well see Porro make way for Udogie in the first XI and Spence move to his original position in midweek.