Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is confident injuries to Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela are minor amid fears of a crisis in his midfield.
Central midfielders, Eric Dier and Dembele, have been vacationing during Spurs’ pre-season tour in America due to their World Cup exploits, while Harry Winks and Josh Onomah stayed at home to nurse injuries.
Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko and 18-year-old Tashan Oakley-Boothe have all sustained injuries during Spurs’ preparations ahead of the new season, which could potentially leave Pochettino without seven central midfielders when they face Newcastle in their opening game of the 2018-19 Premier League season on 11 August.
But Pochettino remains hopeful that some of the injuries are only minor. “We need to assess Moussa [Sissoko] tomorrow, in the next few days, to see what happens,” the manager told reporters (via ESPN).
“We hope it’s a minor injury, but he feels something in his hamstring.
“Erik [Lamela], after the game against Roma, felt a minor injury but in a different muscle. We hope he can play against AC Milan [on Tuesday].
“Victor Wanyama has gone back with Tashan to London because they need to see the doctor there. We’re going to assess him in the next few days and see what happens.”
Despite the long injury list, the Spurs manager insists that he is relaxed about the situation. “You need to be relaxed, working hard,” he said.
“My focus is on trying to help the team and develop the way we want to play and arrive in the best condition to start the season. Nothing’s going to change if I change my behaviour or the way I act.”
As well as Tottenham’s mounting injury woes, the north London outfit have added no extra bodies so far this transfer window, which is due to close in less than a fortnight.
Pochettino says he still wants to fulfil his ambition of adding extra quality to his side before the Premier League gets underway next month, however, the Argentine has ruled out bringing back Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
“If you say we need to sign there [in central midfield], maybe. But with or without injuries that was our target after we finished last season – to add some players with qualities that can help us achieve all that we want. With or without, I think we are going to,” he said.
Spurs play AC Milan in the last game of their pre-season tour in the United States before taking on Newcastle United in their Premier League opener on August 11.
The post Pochettino gives update on Spurs’ midfield injury woes appeared first on Squawka News.
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