Tottenham Hotspur will be without two key players for their Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Sunday. Manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison will miss the game due to injuries.
Solanke, who recently joined the club, suffered an ankle injury and Postecoglou has opted to be cautious with his recovery, stating that the upcoming north London derby against Arsenal on September 15th takes priority. Richarlison, on the other hand, has been hampered by persistent injury issues and has picked up a muscle problem in training, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.
The absence of both players leaves Tottenham short on attacking options. Richarlison’s injury is particularly significant as it means captain Son Heung-min is likely to start as a centre-forward.
“Dom is close but we’re going to be a bit cautious with him, we’ve got a big programme post the international break, so he’ll miss out on Sunday,” said Postecoglou. “The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison, who unfortunately picked up an injury in training, so he’ll probably miss the next few weeks.”
The trip to St. James’ Park is a particularly difficult one for Tottenham, who have suffered heavy defeats in their last two visits, including a 4-0 drubbing earlier this year under Postecoglou. The Australian manager acknowledges the importance of learning from that defeat.
“It was a good learning curve for us that (4-0) game because we started OK, but we conceded and lost probably for the first time all year our composure in a game,” said Postecoglou. “We allowed them to score quickly and we know what it is like up there. The crowd create a brilliant atmosphere for their team and we just didn’t handle it at all well.”
Despite the injuries, both Tottenham and Newcastle are aiming for a Champions League spot next season. For Tottenham, the focus is on the Europa League this year, with the draw for the group stage providing some exciting fixtures. Postecoglou will face a frosty reception at his former club Rangers, while Roma will visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Exciting. It’s good to be a part of. Some good games,” added Postecoglou. “I am sure I will get a warm reception at Ibrox and they’ll look forward to seeing me.”
