Tottenham handed major injury boost ahead of Liverpool clash
By Harry Sykes
Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Danny Rose’s knee injury is only “minor” as he delivered an optimistic update on the Tottenham player’s fitness.
Rose saw a specialist on Monday about the problem that forced him to miss Spurs’ 1-0 win over Middlesbrough last weekend.
Pochettino confirmed that the left-back will be absent for Tottenham’s Premier League trip to Liverpool on Saturday but stressed that he should soon be in contention for a place in the starting XI.
It has been widely reported that Rose will be sidelined until March, which would rule him out of the club’s next five matches, including two Premier League games, a Europa League double header against Gent and an FA Cup fifth round tie against Fulham.
Pochettino refused to say how long the England international will be missing but insisted he was delighted by the outcome of the knee specialist’s diagnosis.
““It is not a big issue, a minor problem, small problem,” said Pochettino, as quoted by the Sun. “He (Rose) is very positive, we are very positive.”
Ben Davies, who stepped in for Rose against Middlesbrough last Saturday, is set to continue at left-back against Liverpool.
The Wales international is a proven Premier League performer but does not offer the first choice’s dynamism on the overlap.
Rose has been an integral player for the Tottenham side that has emerged as Chelsea’s main challengers for the Premier League title.
Spurs are second in the Premier League ahead of their trip to Anfield, although they are a distant nine points adrift of Antonio Conte’s runaway leaders.
In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy has lined up the next Spurs arrival as the deal is all but done.
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