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Tottenham staff privately think that £35m player was rushed back from injury far too early
There’s no doubt that injuries have been a huge factor in the difficulties Tottenham Hotspur have faced under Ange Postecoglou this season.
Cristian Romero returned to training this week, which is a huge positive for the club, even if the centre-back isn’t quite ready to play for Tottenham in their important tie with Hoffenheim.
Spurs’ predicted XI to face Hoffenheim is almost entirely unrecognisable from what most supporters in N17 would consider as the club’s strongest, when all are fit.
As well as their unregistered players: Antonin Kinsky, Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon, Tottenham will also be without 11 players owing to injury, an unprecedented number.
Of course, Micky van de Ven is one of the most important of those missing, a 23-year-old who has only made 11 appearances so far this season.
The Dutchman has been suffering with hamstring injuries, an issue he only made worse when returning against Chelsea early in December.
Micky van de Ven returned from injury too early against Chelsea in December
have now completed something of a deep-dive on Tottenham’s injury crisis right now, drawing parallels to Postecoglou’s time at Celtic and in Japan.
And as part of their findings, it’s come to light that some of Spurs’ medical staff ‘had reservations’ about the decision to sanction Van de Ven’s return against Chelsea in December.
Facing Chelsea is obviously a huge game for Spurs, a rivalry that almost sits level with the North London Derby these days.
Having missed five Premier League matches before Spurs’ date with Chelsea, both Van de Ven and Romero had only done a couple of training sessions in preparation.
And despite doubt among Tottenham’s medical staff, Van de Ven started against Spurs’ rivals anyway, lasting 79 minutes and not playing since.
The defender, who has been a sensational signing for Postecoglou, aggravated his previous issue and has now been missing for seven more league matches since.
Richarlison needs to take his chance at Tottenham
Of course, it’s important to note that Postecoglou originally thought that Van de Ven would be back in the middle of December, a return date that might have actually been better suited.
Either way, fans in N17 will just be hoping for the safe return for their list of absentees, which now includes both Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke.
In that regard, Richarlison’s return to fitness has been very timely, especially given that the Brazilian has a point to prove.
Richarlison hasn’t ever quite hit the heights he may have hoped for in north London, but there is now a passage for him to play a regular starting role.
And it’s currently looking as if Tottenham might fail to add a striker in this window, despite being linked with the likes of Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.