FanSided World Football
·28 de diciembre de 2024
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Yahoo sportsFanSided World Football
·28 de diciembre de 2024
Tottenham’s current defensive woes have left fans clamouring for fresh options, and one name has emerged from the shadows: Alfie Dorrington.
The young academy prospect could be on the brink of a significant Premier League opportunity, a development driven by an injury crisis that has crippled Ange Postecoglou’s backline.
With uncertainty looming over Sunday’s clash against Wolves, Dorrington’s inclusion could be a necessity rather than a choice.
At just 19 years old, Dorrington has already caught the eye of Tottenham supporters, and his recent appearance on social media has sparked fresh speculation.
Southampton FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League | Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Tottenham’s defensive problems have reached alarming levels. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, who had only just returned from injuries, are sidelined again.
Ben Davies has suffered a setback in his recovery, and Radu Dragusin, a key figure in recent matches, sustained an ankle injury during the defeat to Nottingham Forest. This leaves Postecoglou with severely limited options for the upcoming fixture.
While Yves Bissouma and Archie Gray could be forced to play out of position as makeshift centre-backs, academy graduate Alfie Dorrington might be Tottenham’s best hope.
The young defender has been named on the bench in recent weeks and made a brief but solid appearance in Spurs' emphatic 5-0 victory over Southampton earlier this month.
Postecoglou has so far been cautious with Dorrington due to the teenager's injury history, but the current circumstances might compel the manager to hand him his first Premier League start.
Speaking about Dragusin's injury, Postecoglou remained noncommittal, saying, "He tweaked his ankle and felt like he couldn't continue, so we'll have to wait and see. We'll wait until he gets in today (Friday) and assess him from there."
Speculation about Dorrington’s involvement intensified after the youngster posted a video of himself getting a haircut on Instagram, a ritual many footballers follow before matches.
Although the post was later deleted, it has fueled rumours about his potential inclusion in Sunday’s squad.
However, outlets like Daily Hotspur have reported today that the club does not actually plan to utilise Alfie Dorrington. Instead, Yves Bissouma has been training.
Whether Dorrington starts or not, his presence in the squad underscores the importance of nurturing young talent during times of crisis.