Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has received a timely boost with the impending return of defender Micky van de Ven, offering some respite amidst a spate of absences for the North London club.
Suffering a hamstring injury in November, van de Ven’s return after nine matches comes as Spurs prepare for their FA Cup third-round clash against Burnley on January 5. The Dutch international’s availability provides much-needed options for Postecoglou, especially with key players such as James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma, and Pape Matar Sarr all absent due to injuries or international duties.
“Micky has trained this week,” Postecoglou confirmed on January 4. “He might be involved in the squad tomorrow, it’s good to get him back. Obviously, he’s missed a fair bit so we’ll have to be careful with him.”
Tottenham have been linked with a potential move for Radu Dragusin, a Romanian center-back from Serie A club Genoa, amid Romero’s injury absence. However, Postecoglou remained noncommittal when questioned about signing a new center-back during the January transfer window.
Tottenham’s fifth position in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, highlights the significance of a successful cup run for the club. Postecoglou acknowledged the importance of silverware and the rich history that the FA Cup holds for Tottenham.
The Australian manager is also delighted to welcome back Dejan Kulusevski, who missed the team’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth due to a one-match ban. Additionally, Sergio Reguilon has returned from his loan spell at Manchester United, while teenage striker Dane Scarlett has been recalled from Ipswich Town.
In contrast, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany sees the FA Cup third-round fixture against Tottenham as “the best possible draw.” Kompany believes that facing a top team early allows them to gauge their progress.
“If you win the game, you can hope for a positive cup run and carry on. If you don’t win the game, then you move on back to the league,” Kompany stated.
The FA Cup clash between Tottenham and Burnley promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams aiming for a positive result. Tottenham will look to use their depth and home advantage, while Burnley will seek to cause an upset against their Premier League rivals.