Despite having 6 days between games for the first time since November’s international break, a sickness bug exacerbated Tottenham’s injury crisis before Newcastle. Ange Postecoglou says the bug left three Tottenham players bedridden and plenty more suffering.
Tottenham Hotspur were already set to be without 9 first team players before their game against Newcastle. 8 injuries and a one-match suspension for Rodrigo Bentancur meant that Spurs were facing another game with a squad being stretched thin.
Reports broke on Friday that a bug had been going the Spurs squad and several first-team players would be unavailable for their Premier League match.
This led to Brandon Austin making his senior competitive debut for Spurs with Radu Dragusin needing to be substituted at half-time in Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Newcastle.
After the conclusion of the Newcastle game, Ange Postecoglou was asked about how the bug affected the squad.
Speaking to FootballLondon, he said: “Just a bug. Radu and Archie were bedridden all week. Fraser, obviously he’s still bedridden and struggling with it, there are a couple of others struggling.
“Like I said, at half-time [Radu] didn’t have any more to give. On Thursday, we literally had 11 fit players for training.
When asked about Austin’s impromptu debut, Ange said “Yeah he was great. Everyone was great, unbelievable. Considering what we had to put up with…Radu [Dragusin] and Archie [Gray] literally got off sickbeds to play today, and Radu was shattered at half-time. Brandon, obviously we found out yesterday was playing.”
If Fraser Forster is still bed-ridden this week, it would raise the question of who will be between the sticks on Wednesday when Spurs host Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Brandon Austin played well enough to deserve another opportunity, however, Forster may yet recover in time. Alternatively, new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky could get his debut within a matter of days, but only if he receives his work permit in time.
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