Latest Tottenham injury news as four miss Arsenal with North London Derby boost and Veliz update
Tottenham injury news as Ange Postecoglou’s gets ready to prepare for a first north London derby with a near fully fit Spurs squad
Tottenham are entering next week’s North London Derby in the best possible shape. On a four-match winning streak in the league, scoring goals and playing entertaining football.
Five games in and they’re one of four teams – the current top four – to be unbeaten in the league and only two teams have scored more than their 13 goals so far this season. Heading into one of the most anticipated derby day’s in recent history, Spurs are the side playing the better football so far.
To make matters even better for Ange Postecoglou, who can seemingly do no wrong in charge so far, he is working with a near fully fit squad and barring any late issues from training will be ready to field his best team once more. It is a point of strength for Spurs that they have rarely needed to rotate so far this season.
New signing Manor Solomon has worked his way into the side whilst Son Heung-min has taken up a central role to accommodate. The fitness and availability of Dejan Kulusevski, so often out for stretches of last term with niggle, is one of the biggest positives and has allowed for some of the best attacking play to come through him.
James Maddison, despite being kicked consistently for club and country – he is the joint third most fouled player in the league – has remained strong and also in form. It is an ode to the depth available at this current point that Richarlison, tipped by many to have to replace Harry Kane out-and-out, has been able to play a role from the bench after returning from international duty with Brazil.
After the Sheffield United clash there are no immediate worries for Spurs going into a big week. Giovani Lo Celso missed the game on Saturday having been ruled out before by Postecoglou, but everyone else that has played a part this season was in contention.
“[Giovani Lo Celso] is not available for this weekend. He trained with us yesterday but we’re going to give it another week,” he said on Friday. At the same time there was also a boost with new signing Alejo Veliz made available for the first time since moving to the club over the summer.
“Alejo is finally on the pitch, which is great,” said Postecoglou. “It was his first session yesterday [Thursday]. He’s been impatient waiting to get started. It was good to have him involved yesterday and he’ll be available from here on as well.”
Veliz wasn’t part of the matchday squad for the clash with the Blades but his readiness adds yet another layer of depth to the squad, even if it is with inexperience. His fellow South American teammate Rodrigo Bentancur is also making progress towards a long awaited return but still faces another six weeks on the sideline, at least. 
He was in the warm-up on the grass at Hotspur Way for the first time since his damaging knee injury in February, a huge boost for the influential midfielder, but wasn’t part of the main training group. Bentancur instead had to settle for more individual drills as his recovery continues.
He is fighting for a return though and Postecoglou praising his eagerness. “Rehab it is the toughest bit. Talk to any player, it is not just the work but the solitary element of it. He was buzzing yesterday but it is good.
“Fair to say he has a fair bit of work to do and great to have him involved. He was dejected of course when we had to pull him out of it after half an hour.”
The only other players that are unlikely to be available are Ryan Sessegnon and Bryan Gil as they also continue working towards a return. Barring any issues picked up this week it is set to be a cracker at the Emirates Stadium next Sunday with two flowing teams going at it.
