Ange Postecoglou issues Richarlison and Destiny Udogie Tottenham injury update ahead of friendly
Ange Postecoglou has provided the latest on the injury front ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, Japan
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Richarlison and Destiny Udogie “aren’t quite ready to play” just yet as Tottenham prepare to face Vissel Kobe on Saturday. Having secured wins in their opening summer friendlies against Hearts and QPR, the Liywhites are now in Tokyo as part of their pre-season tour of Japan and south korea
Neither Richarlison nor Udogie have featured for Spur just yet this summer as they both work their way back to fitness from injury. Richarlison missed the final few games of the 2023/24 campaign due to a calf issue, with Udogie undergoing surgery to his left quadriceps in late April.
Both key players in the Tottenham team, Postecoglou will be hoping to have the duo available as soon as possible as the team prepare for their Premier League opener against Leicester City. One player who could possibly be set to feature against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo’s National Stadium is Ben Davies.
Like Richarlison, the Welshman did not play for Spurs in the final few weeks of last campaign due to a calf injury. Not in a position to feature at either Hearts or QPR, Davies, who this week completed a decade at the club, has returned to training and that could potentially lead to game time as a result.
“Yeah the guys who kind of participated in the games so far, plus Ben Davies has trained this week,” said postecoglou in his pre-match press conference when asked about the latest on the injury front. “So out of the travelling party I think it’s just Richy and Destiny who aren’t quite ready to play but everyone else is fit.”
Postecoglou and his coaching staff are certainly working the players hard in Tokyo ahead of the new season. The squad found that out after taking part in a double session at their base not long after landing in the country.
Nothing is really different from home to be honest, it’s just (about) constant improvement in our football,” said the 58-year-old. “Obviously when you’re away from your home environment the training conditions are different and it’s all about adaption to that and not allowing it to affect our training levels and exposing the guys to different things.
“The boys are improving all the time and this time of year its about making sure we don’t miss a day or an opportunity to get ready for the start of the season, because you know that once the season starts, especially with us being back in Europe, there’ll be a heavy games program. For us as coaches this time of the year is really valuable so the last thing you want to do is come into a different environment and change your approach because of something not familiar to us.
“The first day we got here, literally off the flight, we had a double session and pushed the boys hard and they were excellent and they’ve really embraced the challenge of it.
