Tottenham injury update: Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Spurs looking for major triple boost around time of crucial AZ Alkmaar tie in Europa League

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

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Tottenham are still awaiting the return of some key players heading into a crucial period in March.

Despite two painful domestic cup exits in a matter of days, such a boost contributed to a run of three successive Premier League wins that was halted by a frustrating 1-0 home loss to Manchester City on Wednesday night in which the likes of captain Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and the in-form Djed Spence were all surprisingly named on the bench as they were handed a rest amid a hectic fixture schedule.

Micky van de Ven

Van de Ven has played only twice for Tottenham since suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup back in October, suffering a setback against Chelsea in December before playing 45 minutes against Elfsborg in the Europa League last month.

Spurs have been understandably cautious with ensuring that the Dutch defender is completely ready to return on a full-time basis, with Postecoglou initially sounding hopeful that he would be back in contention around the time of the tie against former club Alkmaar.

In a new update this week, the Tottenham boss said that Van de Ven should “definitely” be back for the second leg, with an “outside chance” of being available for the first match in the Netherlands.

He expects the 23-year-old to be fully training by then, though suggested he had “much better odds” of playing in the home Premier League game against Bournemouth that is sandwiched between the two Alkmaar ties.

Potential return date: March 9, vs Bournemouth (H)

Cristian Romero

It is more or less the same situation for Van de Ven’s centre-back partner Romero, who has been out with a quad injury since also making an ill-fated and short-lived return to action in the 4-3 home defeat by Chelsea in December.

The Argentine international had a positive scan last week that Postecoglou said confirmed he was in a “good place”, having admitted that his recovery was taking longer than initially anticipated.

Like Van de Ven, Romero has an outside chance of being fit for the first leg in Alkmaar, but is more likely to return against Bournemouth before being available for the deciding European fixture at home after that.

Potential return date: March 9, vs Bournemouth (H)

Dominic Solanke

Postecoglou also grouped in Solanke with Van de Ven and Romero in terms of that latest update before the City loss this week, naming all three players as having an outside chance of being fit for the first Alkmaar game but more likely for Bournemouth and the second leg.

However, he stressed that Spurs need to be more careful with their £65million striker, whom he said is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury suffered in late January that was originally expected to rule him out for around six weeks.

It therefore wouldn’t be a surprise if Solanke had to wait a little longer than Van de Ven and Romero for his own return, be it either against former club Bournemouth in some capacity or in the home leg against Alkmaar.

Potential return date: March 9, vs Bournemouth (H) or March 13, vs AZ Alkmaar (H)

Richarlison

As well as Solanke, Tottenham have also been without fellow forward Richarlison again of late after he sustained a calf problem during the heavy Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg defeat at Liverpool earlier this month.

He seems to have been on a similar recovery path to that of Solanke, which, providing there are no further setbacks, could also have him in the mix to feature against Bournemouth and likely the second Alkmaar leg.

Potential return date: March 9, vs Bournemouth (H) or March 13, vs AZ Alkmaar (H)

Ben Davies

Versatile defender Davies has missed Tottenham’s last two matches with an unspecified knock and was not risked against City on Wednesday night, though looks likely to be in contention for the first leg against Alkmaar.

“This is a key period and I want as many players in the best possible condition and after this game we have a seven-day break which leads into Europe, league, Europe, league and those games are massive for us,” Postecoglou said of the Welshman’s absence this week.

“I don’t see need to push. He hasn’t re-injured. He’s just been carrying something that I don’t want to push at the moment.”

Potential return date: March 6, vs AZ Alkmaar (A)

Radu Dragusin

Romanian centre-back Dragusin will not play again this season after recently undergoing surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee suffered against Elfsborg.

Potential return date: Next season