Spurs injuries mount: doubts over £130m attacking trio and eight players for Rangers test
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Rangers are preparing to welcome an injury-ravaged Tottenham Hotspur to Ibrox in the Europa League this week.
Australian manager Ange Postecoglou has lamented a series of injury problems in his squad which have gravely impacted the club's ambitions this season.
The stubborn former Celtic boss reckons it's bad luck and not his aggressive style of attacking football which has had the impact, with several players either missing or big doubts for the clash with Rangers.
Here's the current state of play in the Tottenham Hotspur squad, with doubt surrounding eight players as Rangers look to spring a Europa League upset.
Guglielmo Vicario – OUT
Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario fractured his ankle back in November and is likely to be out of action until the end of February.
It means ex-Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster is likely to be between the sticks against Rangers on Europa League duties.
Micky van den Ven – DOUBT
Micky van den Ven returned for Tottenham in the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea after missing six games due to a hamstring injury suffered against Manchester City in October.
The Dutch defender wasn't expected back until the end of the year and came off in the 79th minute against the Blues after receiving treatment on the back of his leg.
A major doubt to play against Rangers at Ibrox but Spurs are short of options at centre-back.
Cristian Romero – OUT
Ange Postecoglou lamented the loss of Cristian Romero following the defeat to Chelsea such is the importance of the Argentine World Cup winner to his team.
Having worked his way back into the starting line-up v Chelsea, Romero had to be replaced only 19 minutes into the game having felt something in his quad.
Reports suggest Romero faces six weeks on the sidelines with the centre-back almost certainly missing the Europa League clash with Rangers.
Ben Davies – OUT
Another recent injury for the Tottenham medical staff to assess, Davies suffered a hamstring problem in last week's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.
The London Evening Standard reckon Davies is out of action for the 'foreseeable future' which means he'll miss Thursday's game with Rangers.
Brennan Johnson – DOUBT
Amongst all the Spurs injury problems, Brennan Johnson is probably the slightest doubt of the lot to face Rangers.
The £47.5m Welsh international came off at half-time against Chelsea complaining of feeling sick, with Ange Postecoglou hoping the issue clears up in time to face Rangers.
Wilson Odobert – OUT
Spurs splashed out £25m to sign Wilson Odobert in the summer but the attacker has spent the bulk of the campaign sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
Last seen in September, the 20-year-old ex-Burnley star is out of an indefinite period of time in North London.
The situation with French winger Odobert has shades of that concerning Oscar Cortes at Rangers.
Richarlison – OUT
Son Hueng-Min aside, Richarlison is the most glamorous name in the Tottenham squad but Rangers fans won't catch a glimpse of the Brazilian frontman.
That's because the 27-year-old forward is out for a 'significant period of time' due to a hamstring injury sustained in November.
Given Spurs paid £60m to sign Richarlison in 2022, if the Brazilian winger, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson all miss the clash with Rangers, that's over £130m worth of talent sidelined.
Mikey Moore – DOUBT
Big things are expected of teenage winger Mikey Moore at Spurs but the forward, who in ordinary circumstances would be a Europa League starter, is out with a mystery virus.
Whilst the Premier League side won't go into details about the problem, Moore is expected to remain out until 2025 with the issue.
