Tottenham hopeful over triple injury boost with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero 'in line' for returns | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou has explained why fit-again first-choice defenders did not come off the bench in AZ Alkmaar defeat

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Ange Postecoglou says key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are "in line to feature" when Tottenham host Bournemouth on Sunday.

They were both unused substitutes in Thursday night’s 1-0 first-leg defeat by AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last 16 at AFAS Stadion but could be in contention to play in north London on Sunday in a game that is followed four days later by the home decider against AZ.

Romero has not played for Spurs since an ill-fated 15-minute cameo against Chelsea in early December, but he has since returned to training and will be going away on international duty with Argentina later this month.

Van de Ven, meanwhile, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and only made two brief appearances - against Chelsea in December and Elfsborg in January - since first suffering the issue in October.

“Yeah, they’re a chance,” Postecoglou said at Friday’s pre-match press conference, when asked whether either player will be available against seventh-place Bournemouth.

“Look, when I saw the pitch the night before, I pretty much made up my mind [that] I wasn’t going to risk them last night [against AZ Alkmaar].

“It wasn’t a great pitch. It wasn’t steady underfoot. It wasn’t the sort of game where I felt I needed to expose them. A couple of extra days' training and recovery, and hopefully both are in line to feature.”

Veteran Spurs defender Ben Davies did not make the squad for Thursday’s defeat in the Netherlands, but Postecoglou revealed there is “a chance” that he too could face the Cherries.

“He’s actually training at the moment,” he said. “So we’ll see how he feels.

“He’s definitely progressed and he feels good. We’ll see how he goes [in the] next 24–48 hours. There’s a chance.”

Postecoglou said it was “too early” to properly assess Dominic Solanke’s knock after the Tottenham striker came on to make his return from a seven-week absence with a knee injury against AZ Alkmaar but had to be helped off the pitch in stoppage time after a painful landing inside the box.

Spurs have also been without Solanke’s fellow forward Richarlison of late due to a calf problem, while defender Radu Dragusin will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Dejan Kulusevski is out with a foot issue.