‘We need to check him every day’ – Pochettino makes admission over Tottenham star’s return
By Russell Edge
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he does not know when midfield star Mousa Dembele will return to action.
The Belgian enforcer was ruled out of the club’s 3-2 win away at West Ham on Saturday, and is a serious doubt for their Champions League clash against Cyprus based side Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday.
As a result, Pochettino says that they are checking on the 30-year-old’s progress on a daily basis, and he is confident that the issue will not need an operation of any sort.
He told the London Evening Standard: “We don’t know if it’s possible for him to be available to go to Cyprus.
“We need to check him every day. Maybe in the next few days, we’ll take some decisions with the medical staff.
“I don’t believe [he will need an operation]. Now it’s in the medical staff’s hands.”
Dembele has already undergone surgery, which took place over the summer break, to fix an issue in his foot, and it appeared that he was back to full fitness as he featured in the club’s opening five games.
However he was dropped to the bench against Swansea before playing 79 minutes in the League Cup clash against Barnsley, but was omitted from the squad completely for victory over the Hammers.
Dembele is joined in the treatment room by fellow defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, which has left Pochettino short in the defensive midfield role.
He has entrusted the versatile Eric Dier to take on the responsibility, while Moussa Sissoko has been drafted in alongside the English international to form a partnership in the centre of the park.
In other Tottenham news, Alan Shearer has said one Tottenham star will be a record breaker.
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