By Richard Parks
Toby Alderweireld worked alone in the gym as he was absent from Tottenham’s first team training session on Tuesday, according to journalists at the club’s headquarters.
ESPN FC correspondent Dan Kilpatrick reported on his personal Twitter account that the Belgium defender remained separate from the rest of the squad as final preparations were made for Wednesday night’s Champions League showdown against Juventus.
#thfc At Spurs open training. Alderweireld staying in gym alone while rest of squad comes out.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) March 6, 2018
Football London’s Alasdair Gold added that Alderweireld, 28, was continuing his rehabilitation from the hamstring injury that Spurs explained last week would only be “short term”.
Spurs training. No Alderweireld as he continues his rehabilitation. pic.twitter.com/q3UmwXIxkW
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) March 6, 2018
It means that Tottenham will have to do without Alderweireld for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash at Wembley, their biggest match of the season to date.
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Any hope that Alderweireld could recover in time to play in the mouthwatering showdown against Juventus have now disappeared. It is a major blow for Mauricio Pochettino, who will not be able to call upon the man most consider as not only Spurs’ best defender, but one of the outstanding centre-backs in the Premier League. There will be concern that Alderweireld has broken down again with a hamstring injury so soon after recovering from a tear to the same muscle that sidelined him for three months. Was he rushed back too quickly? That appears to be the case.
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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