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The race for the top four is as tight as it’s been going into matchday 33. Spurs sit in fourth place, two points behind London rival Chelsea but with a match in hand. Hot on their heels are that other team from north London, just one point back in fifth. Manchester United sit three points back in sixth. To say that every point is vital at this stage is an understatement. Today, the club provided an update as is standard ahead of every match.
TEAM NEWS:
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 12, 2019
@HKane (ankle) - continuing assessment and unavailable for selection.
@dele_official (hand) - being assessed ahead of tomorrow’s match.#PL ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/eF9IBDw9Gr
TEAM NEWS:
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 12, 2019
@Serge_aurier (hamstring)
@ericdier (hip flexor)
@ErikLamela (hamstring)
All three players are continuing on-field rehabilitation and remain unavailable.#PL ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/qj1mshpFEX
TEAM NEWS:
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 12, 2019
@vincentjanssen (ankle) - undergoing rehab and expected to return to training next week.#PL ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/UWrcJ0L0aZ
As we reported yesterday, Harry Kane is obviously out for this match while we wait to hear the final prognosis on his time out. The odds are not in our favor of him returning anytime soon, unfortunately. As for Dele, we’re all expecting him to be fitted for a soft cast to protect his fractured hand. Whether or not he plays tomorrow remains to be seen. Given that it’s a club already relegated to the Championship, he may not be needed but that’s up to Poch.
Eric Dier, Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela and Vincent Janssen are all out with injuries. Dier is a player that Spurs could really use right now for a little depth in the defensive midfield. The second half of his season has been incredibly unlucky, starting with his appendix needing removal and getting a virus that floored him. Add in the couple of injuries he’s sustained and he simply cannot catch a break. There hasn’t been much of an update on Lamela’s timetable, unfortunately, and having another player in the attacking band for selection wouldn’t hurt. Aurier’s hamstring injury doesn’t appear to be bad, but if he’s still going through rehab, he’s at least a couple weeks away from returning.
Pochettino is expected to have his pre-match press conference soon, and if there is anything vital regarding the injuries, we will update this as necessary. For now, it’s six players on the injured list with one expected to be a match day decision.