Seven players to miss Tottenham showdown against Middlesbrough
By Harry Sykes
Five Tottenham players will be among the seven in total who are absent from their Premier League showdown against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Maurcio Pochettino revealed on Friday that Danny Rose, Kierian Trippier and Georges-Kevin N’Kouodou join long-term absentees Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela on the Spurs injury list for the evening kick-off at White Hart Lane.
Boro boss Aitor Karanka has injury worries of his own, with George Friend and Gaston Ramirez both unavailable for selection but Calum Chambers – on loan from Arsenal – may return following a foot problem.
Pochettino revealed the Spurs team news on Friday afternoon as the club made their final preparations for the weekend fixture.
Goalkeeeper Hugo Lloris is set to return after missing the midweek draw at Sunderland due to illness, when he was replaced by his understudy Michel Vorm.
But Rose is absent with a knee injury and will see a specialist on Monday, while Nkoudou (knee) and Kieran Trippier (hip) remain sidelined, although the manager says the latter two are making good progress.
“GK (N’Koudou) is much better,” Pochettino said, as quoted by the official Spurs website. “For tomorrow he is out but he is much better. Kieran Trippier is still out but is much better too in the same level and be sure for next week he will be available.”
Centre-back Jan Vertonghen is stepping up his recovery after suffering ankle ligament damage, and could be back in action by the end of the month.
“Jan Vertonghen is doing better, he’s started to run on the pitch, he is very positive and we’ll see in the next few weeks how he is doing but we are very positive about him,” added Pochettino.
“Erik Lamela’s progression is good – every day is step-by-step going ahead. It’s better to be cautious but we are positive and happy.”
Middlesbrough could give a debut to Algeria international midfielder Adlene Guedioura, after he joined from Watford on transfer deadline day.
Spurs need to win on Saturday to keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea, who are nine points clear of their second-placed London rivals.
In other Tottenham news, a striker has signed after Spurs agreed terms.
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