Nuno Santo has hinted that Tottenham Hotspur have some injury doubts ahead of their return to Premier League action on Sunday…
What’s the latest?
Spurs head to the northeast to face Newcastle United at St James’ Park for their first game back after the international break, having won last time out when defeating Aston Villa 2-1.
That put an end to a run of three successive heavy league defeats, though the pressure is surely still on the Portuguese boss. The Magpies will be no easy test either after their long-awaited Saudi-backed takeover was finally announced last week.
Speaking in his pre-game press conference, the Lilywhites head coach told reporters (via football.london): “After the international break, there are always huge issues that happen. We have problems but I will not say before the game.”
Potential blow
This will come as worrying news to the Spurs faithful, even if it’s anyone’s guess as to who Nuno is on about.
The north London outfit had plenty of their first-team stars out on international duty during the past week or so.
Argentina duo Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero, Brazil right-back Emerson Royal and Colombia centre-back Davinson Sanchez are all on their way back, having played their final matches on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday. They will be assessed upon their return to England.
Harry Kane featured for England, Heung-min Son was in goalscoring form for South Korea, and club captain Hugo Lloris won the Nations League with France.
Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil (Spain), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Denmark), Matt Doherty (Northern Ireland), Joe Rodon and Ben Davies (Wales) and Oliver Skipp (England U21) were all also involved in some form of international action in recent days, too.
The vast majority of these are first-choice starters for Nuno, so it’ll certainly be a blow to Spurs if any have returned with an injury or even a knock.
Supporters may be feeling a little anxious heading into kick-off now. We will soon see who – if any – is missing when the teamsheet is announced on Sunday afternoon.
AND in other news, 87 touches, 89% duels won: “Phenomenal” Spurs beast has now handed Nuno a huge dilemma…