Tottenham’s injury challenges worsened during their midweek 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, with Ben Davies sustaining a hamstring injury.
This latest setback adds to the mounting difficulties for manager Ange Postecoglou, who has already been contending with the absence of first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Davies has been a key figure in the makeshift defence, partnering with Radu Dragusin in recent weeks. However, his injury forced an early substitution around the hour mark, with Pedro Porro stepping in. Archie Gray was subsequently moved to centre-back out of necessity, underscoring the limited options available in Tottenham’s defensive ranks.
After the match, Postecoglou confirmed that Davies would be sidelined for an extended period due to the hamstring injury.
The manager expressed frustration over the lack of depth in central defence, noting that both Davies and Dragusin have been stretched thin due to the squad’s current limitations.
While there is hope that Romero and Van de Ven could return this month, Romero’s participation in Sunday’s crucial clash against Chelsea remains doubtful. Should he remain unavailable, Dragusin would be the only senior centre-back fit to play, potentially forcing Postecoglou to rely on Gray in an unfamiliar role once again.
Speaking during the post-game presser, the Australian stated (quotes via Sports Mole):
“It looks like he’s done his hamstring. He’ll obviously be out for a period of time now, we’ll just have to wait and see how long it is.
“Him and Radu have played every game. It’s the one position we can’t rotate. It’s a consequence of having the squad we have at the moment.”
Tottenham’s form has been erratic, with two losses and a draw in their last five league matches dropping them to 10th in the table. The team’s inconsistency has been apparent, with disappointing losses to struggling sides like Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town contrasting sharply with standout performances, such as their emphatic 4-0 victory over Manchester City last month.
As Spurs prepare to host second-placed Chelsea this weekend, Postecoglou faces a significant test. Rallying his injury-hit squad and finding a solution to their defensive woes will be essential as they aim to reverse their recent slide and restore momentum in a challenging Premier League campaign.
