Tottenham faced a setback in their game against Aston Villa when Micky van de Ven, a crucial defender, was forced off the field shortly after half-time due to injury.
The Dutchman, who had been instrumental in Tottenham’s defensive setup, lasted less than five minutes into the second half before being replaced by January signing Radu Dragusin.
The injury occurred when van de Ven went down following a block on Villa forward Leon Bailey. Despite receiving attention from the physio, it was evident that his game was over, and Spurs had to reshuffle their defense once again.
However, Tottenham didn’t let the setback affect their performance, swiftly taking the lead after van de Ven’s departure. James Maddison capitalized on Pape Matar Sarr’s cross to give Tottenham a vital lead, followed by Brennan Johnson doubling the advantage just minutes later.
The goals came after a relatively uneventful first half, where clear-cut chances were scarce despite Tottenham’s dominance in possession and territory.
The injury to van de Ven is a cause for concern for Tottenham, with the extent of the injury set to be assessed.
Having already missed a portion of the season due to a hamstring injury, van de Ven’s potential absence would be a significant blow for manager Ange Postecoglou, who had only recently welcomed him back to the squad in early January.
The 22-year-old’s forced substitution in the Aston Villa game has left Tottenham sweating over his fitness, with uncertainty surrounding the severity of the injury.
While van de Ven was to be assessed on Tuesday to provide clarity on the situation, Tottenham remains hopeful that the injury is not as serious as his previous setback earlier in the season.
However, if the injury sidelines van de Ven for an extended period, Tottenham will likely have to navigate crucial fixtures without one of their key defensive figures. Postecoglou will be keen to have van de Ven back in action for the run-in, as his presence has been instrumental in Tottenham’s defensive solidity when fit and available.
But judging by how he went off, the Dutch international will MOSTLY be out until after the international break if it’s not a serious injury as Ange Postecoglou claimed in his post match interview after the game.
With the international break looming, Tottenham will be hoping for positive news regarding van de Ven’s injury status, as they aim to maintain their momentum and secure valuable points in the remaining fixtures of the season.