Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has shared encouraging news regarding the fitness of Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke ahead of Sunday’s crucial North London derby against Arsenal.
Van de Ven, who had been sidelined due to a knee injury picked up in a clash against Everton, has shown significant improvement.
Postecoglou confirmed that the Dutch defender utilised the international break to fully recover, training consistently during that period.
His return to full fitness is a timely boost for Spurs, particularly after the team’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, where his absence was noticeable and Radu Dragusin stepped in to cover.
Similarly, Solanke, who has been out since the season opener against Leicester with an ankle injury, has also made positive progress.
The striker returned to training earlier this week, and while his fitness is being carefully monitored, Postecoglou is hopeful that Solanke will be ready for selection come Sunday.
As quoted by the Standard, the Australian head coach stated:
“It’s fairly positive. Micky’s good, he’s trained all the way through the international break and it was good for him to stay with us to build him back up so he’s ready to go.
“Dom’s improved as well and trained the back half of this week. We still have two days to go with those guys so hopefully they get through training ok and are available.”
Having both players available once again will be a huge advantage for Tottenham as they prepare for one of the most high-profile fixtures of the season.
Van de Ven’s defensive solidity and Solanke’s attacking prowess could be key factors in helping Spurs regain momentum after their recent loss.
With Arsenal missing Declan Rice due to suspension from their 1-1 draw against Brighton, Spurs will look to seize the opportunity and get back on track with a victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.