Team news: Dele set for Tottenham return vs. Southampton

As this article is being written, Mauricio Pochettino is currently in the middle of a press conference ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Southampton in the Premier League. And there’s already good news — the club has announced that there are only two injuries in the squad.

Harry Winks is a doubt for both this weekend’s match and also the upcoming international break after he re-aggravated a groin issue against Dortmund, the same issue that kept him out of the North London Derby. Kieran Trippier, meanwhile, is being left home with what the club is calling a strained gluteus muscle.

Yes, if you’re 12 (and I definitely am) you can certainly make jokes about Winksy’s family jewels and Trippier busting his ass for the team.

The report also leaves out one Bamidele Jermaine Alli, who according to Dan Kilpatrick in the Standard looks likely to make his return to the pitch this weekend at St. Mary’s. That’s HUGE news for Spurs and for Dele — it would be the first match action Dele’s had since he pulled his hamstring six weeks ago, and also would up his chances of making the England squad for two EURO qualifiers.

Normally I don’t like Tottenham players fresh from injury getting called up for international duty, but considering his importance to the team having him go out and shake off the rust with some international minutes seems like a halfway decent idea.

If Dele does return against the Saints, it very well could be the first time we will see DESK on the pitch together since the loss to Manchester United on January 13. And that makes me pretty darn giddy.