Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has provided an update on the fitness of two key players, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, ahead of their Premier League match against Manchester City. Both players have been dealing with injuries that may see them sidelined for the high-profile encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Romero, who has been a standout defender for Spurs, has been struggling with a foot issue since coming off during their 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Despite initially recovering in time for Tottenham’s next match, a home defeat to Ipswich Town, Romero was forced to leave Argentina’s World Cup qualifying game against Paraguay at halftime due to the same injury. Following that, he missed Argentina’s 1-0 win over Peru, fueling concerns about his availability for the upcoming clash with Man City. Postecoglou confirmed that Romero is a doubt for the match, noting that he has not fully recovered from the foot injury.
Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven has also been absent due to a hamstring issue sustained in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City last month. The Dutch defender has been out of action since, and while Postecoglou had hoped that he might return after the international break, he confirmed that Van de Ven is still “a couple of weeks away” from making his return. The coach added that Van de Ven is back on the training field, but a full recovery is expected to take until mid-December.
Both players’ injuries are significant blows for Tottenham, particularly as they prepare to face the defending champions in Manchester City. Without Romero and Van de Ven, Tottenham could be left with a depleted defensive line, which could impact their chances against a high-caliber opponent like City. However, Postecoglou has remained optimistic about the recovery of his players, with hopes that they will be ready for action soon.
Postecoglou also took the time to express his happiness for Romero, who recently became a father for the second time. Despite his personal joy, the Argentine’s injury woes remain a concern for the team. The manager confirmed that apart from Romero and Van de Ven, the rest of the squad returned from international duty without any additional issues.
The manager’s comments on both players highlight the ongoing challenges of managing injuries in the Premier League, where quick recoveries are often necessary given the intense schedule. As Spurs look to continue their strong start to the season, the absence of key defenders could test their squad depth, but the hope remains that both Romero and Van de Ven will return to full fitness in the near future.
With Tottenham facing one of the toughest challenges of the season against Manchester City, the defensive pairing of Romero and Van de Ven is one that Postecoglou will be eager to reintegrate as soon as possible. However, with the current injury setbacks, it seems the Spurs manager will have to adjust his defensive strategy for the upcoming match, which could be pivotal in their pursuit of top-four status this season.
