Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon out three weeks with muscle injury

In his press conference today ahead of Thursday’s Premier League match against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho made some cryptic comments about injured Spurs players, but refused to be drawn into who those players might be. However, sharp-eyed Spurs fans sussed out that the Sergio Reguilon might be one of those players, after scrutinizing the latest batch of Spurs training photos and not seeing the Spaniard in any of them.

Today, the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick is reporting that Reguilon will indeed miss tomorrow’s match against the defending champions, and a not insignificant number of games afterwards. Reguilon is set to be out for the next three weeks with an undisclosed muscle injury.

This is bad for a couple of reasons. First, Reguilon’s pace made him an ideal outlet with the ball and a great way to attack Liverpool in transition, along with Serge Aurier on the right. Second, Tottenham’s other left back is also in doubt after Ben Davies limped off near the end of Monday’s FA Cup win at Wycombe Wanderers. If Davies can’t go, that leaves Spurs without a recognized first team left back (not counting Dennis Cirkin).

There isn’t a really good answer here. Spurs could field a midfielder out of position at left back — someone such as Erik Lamela could deputize there — or shift Aurier to the left and play him alongside Matt Doherty, who was pictured in training. Kilpatrick also notes that Japhet Tanganga, who was hooked at halftime vs. Wycombe, could also play left back (though hasn’t this season). There’d also be some options with a back three with some combination of Aurier, Doherty, Tanganga, or someone like Erik Lamela or Lucas Moura in the wingback roles. (I think I read somewhere that Gareth Bale used to play left back... hmmmmmmmm...)

If the three week timetable holds, in addition to the Liverpool match Spurs will be without Reguilon for the upcoming matches at Brighton on Sunday, plus home games vs. Chelsea & West Brom, the FA Cup Fifth Round match at Everton, and their trip to Manchester City. It’s a rough stretch to be without one of your best attacking fullbacks.

One match at a time, of course. But still. Ugh.