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'Oh dear', 'We will see them next year' - Fans react as Tottenham issue key duo injury update
By Richard Parks
Tottenham fans have reacted with scepticism after the club issued updates on injured defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen that stated both players will be absent for only “short” periods.
The Belgium international pair were unavailable for Spurs’ 1-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace on Sunday due to injury.
Tottenham are next in action on Wednesday night when they face League One outfit Rochdale in an FA Cup fourth-round replash clash.
The north Londoners confirmed neither Alderweireld or Vertonghen will be available but issued a generally positive update through journalists who cover the club, with Football London’s Alasdair Gold reporting shortly before Mauricio Pochettino’s Tuesday media briefing that Spurs expect “both absences to be short term”.
Spurs injury news: Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle) – Tottenham expect “both absences to be short term”.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) February 27, 2018
Alderweireld has a hamstring injury only recently after recovering from a tear that sidelined him for three months, while his Belgian Vertonghen broke down with an ankle problem sustained in training last Saturday.
Supporters of Tottenham have taken to social media to express their scepticism that the defensive pair will be only absent for short periods.
Many recall how Mauricio Pochettino was initially optimistic over Danny Rose and Erik Lamela before they ended up being sidelined for nine and 13 months respectively.
Fans are particularly keen for Vertonghen and Alderweireld to be back for the Champions League showdown against Juventus in eight days.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
Heard that one before from Poch.
— Paul Griffin (@paulgriffin1985) February 27, 2018
Short term for Spurs is the equivalent of a woman’s “just a minute.”..????
— KIERAN SPURSLIFE (@gloryglorythfc1) February 27, 2018
Oh dear ????
— Rudi.the.yid (@Standard_Yid) February 27, 2018
Short term? Days? Week? 2?
— Audere est Facere 2010 (@Audere2010) February 27, 2018
*prays that “short term” means less than 24 hours* ????????
— Joanna Barlow (@joannasbarlow) February 27, 2018
Credit where it’s due, Sanchez and Dier were good on Sunday. But If Toby and Jan are both still missing for Juventus then I think we will struggle. Quite a gulf in class between Crystal Palace and Juventus to say the least.
— Harry Philip (@harryphilip21) February 27, 2018
is that Juventus short term?
— Ben Harris (@_Ben_Harris) February 27, 2018
We will see them next year
— Ewan Clark (@EwanClark94) February 27, 2018
Football Insider verdict:
Spurs’ update will do little to placate the fears of supporters that the key defensive pair will be unavailable for crunch forthcoming fixtures, including next Wednesday’s Champions League showdown against Juventus. Fans will be wary of the long-term injuries sustained by the likes of Danny Rose and Erik Lamela in the past, and how the early medical bulletins from Pochettino were not overly negative.
In other Tottenham news, it can be revealed the club are working on deals to sign up FIVE players, with three agreements virtually nailed on.
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