The frenetic pace of the Premier League, coupled with a grueling fixture schedule, sees a staggering total of 19 players potentially absent for the highly anticipated clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. Scheduled for this weekend at the legendary Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the match sees Newcastle arrive as big favorites after a brilliant series of performances.
Guided by Eddie Howe, the Magpies are in excellent form, having won their last five matches in all competitions by a staggering 16-1 aggregate score. On the other hand, Spurs have struggled of late, having won just two of their last ten outings, with injuries seriously disrupting Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Postecoglou’s hopes of putting together his ideal starting XI have been dashed on several occasions, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero among the notable absentees. The absence of these key centre-backs has significantly affected the team’s stability, exacerbated by the prolonged absence of Ben Davies over the past month.
Learn more:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United live | Premier League
It looks like Tottenham will have to navigate without these three crucial defenders for at least six more games. “Well, Micky and Cristian should all come back towards the end of January,” Postecoglou said at a recent press conference.
To make matters worse, Destiny Udogie has now succumbed to a hamstring injury while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who has been out since breaking his foot against Manchester City in November, is also not expected to return in the near future.
Up front, Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, despite a heavy seven-match suspension recently. Meanwhile, Richarlison and Mikey Moore are also missing, although a quick return appears possible. “At this point, Richy and Mikey should be back, hopefully next week,” expressed Postecoglou.
Learn more:
Official: Martina Fernández loaned to Everton
In addition to these already known absences, the Tottenham camp is also facing an outbreak, with four players at risk of missing the game against Newcastle. Speculation on social media suggests Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, Fraser Forster and James Maddison have all been affected enough to miss training ahead of the match, but their availability remains uncertain.
On the Newcastle side, their injury problems mirror those of Spurs, particularly in the defensive sector. Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth underwent surgery last year, with return deadlines extending to early 2025, making them highly unlikely to play against Tottenham.
Sven Botman, who also recently underwent surgery, is said to be close to returning, with Howe providing an encouraging update regarding the Dutchman’s fitness. “I always said Sven would be ready for holiday reunions,” Howe confirmed. “He has worked incredibly hard to get to this point. If he is in the team, it means he is fit to play.
Meanwhile, Callum Wilson and Nick Pope will also miss the match with their respective hamstring and knee injuries, although Pope is set to make a return. Finally, Fabian Schar will also be suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, paving the way for former Spurs target Lloyd Kelly if Botman is not fully ready to take charge.
