Spurs midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will not be available for selection as they will head to represent Mali and Senegal respectively in the Africa Cup of Nations which begins in the second week of January.
In an already depleted squad thanks to injury, manager Ange Postecoglou will have to manage putting up a midfield from a roster that is much smaller than it is at the moment. A tough few weeks surely for Spurs.
Speaking of having conversations with the pair of central midfielders, Postecoglou shed light on working on new combinations that will ensure Spurs do not lose track and maintain a sense of momentum in the absence of those two
Here is what the gaffer had to say via football.londonon knowing when Sarr and Bissouma will play their last game before heading out:
“No, we’re still working through that. I’m still focusing on what’s ahead between now and then and we’ll go through all of those permutations over the next few weeks.”
The manager’s approach indicates a strategic and thoughtful consideration of the upcoming challenges. The focus remains on the immediate fixtures and maintaining a competitive edge, while plans for the transitional period without Bissouma and Sarr will be finalized in due course.
Tottenham fans can expect Postecoglou to explore various permutations in the midfield, possibly integrating different players and tactical setups to compensate for the absence of the dynamic duo. The manager’s commitment to managing the situation efficiently reflects a proactive approach to squad management during a crucial phase of the season.
In the absence of Giovani Lo Celso and James Maddison alongside the AFCON boys, the onus will now fall on Dejan Kulusevski who will most probably feature as a #10 alongside Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
