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Tottenham Hotspur open their season on August 11th against Newcastle United. The Premier League getting underway is always exciting, but Spurs’ lineup in this opening match could resemble something from a preseason game.
A lack of new signings combined with a batch of players still recovering from the World Cup means that Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will already be thin for that ever important first game. That depth got even thinner today when the club announced that Juan Foyth suffered a thigh injury in a recent friendly.
Juan Foyth suffered a thigh muscle injury during Saturday’s friendly against Brentford.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 24, 2018
As a result, he will miss the start of the season as he undergoes his rehabilitation at Hotspur Way. pic.twitter.com/AkGxJ6j71R
It’s unclear just how serious the injury is, but it’s bad enough that the club know he won’t be ready to play in the next couple weeks. Foyth’s absence means that Davinson Sanchez, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and TJ Eyoma are the only center-backs that Spurs have brought on their tour of the United States.
Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier, and Toby Alderweireld will all be returning to the squad for preseason relatively soon, but their fitness levels for that Newcastle game are still up in the air. They may be forced into action even if they’re not sufficiently recovered from their semi-final runs in Russia.
Then there is all the confusion surrounding Alderweireld’s situation. Manchester United wanted to sign the Belgian, but they have been put off by Daniel Levy’s asking price. United have now turned their attention to Leicester City’s Harry Maguire, and there has been limited interest in Toby’s services from abroad, so he could be set to stay at Spurs after all of that. The status of his relationship with Mauricio Pochettino is unclear, but surely it could be mended if Toby and the club could come to terms on a new contract.
Foyth’s injury puts increased strain on that center-back position. The Argentinean U-20 international looked promising in limited opportunities last season. Hopefully he can recover soon and continue to improve while also providing the depth that is needed when you’re taking part in so many different competitions.