When Tottenham Hotspur travels to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night, they’ll be hoping to keep up their momentum.
Spurs, under by Ange Postecoglou, have improved recently, winning three straight games in the Premier League to be in striking distance of the top four.
In addition, there hasn’t been much of a reprieve in their personnel issue. For the trip to the south coast, they will be missing two more important players.
Cristian Romero has a hamstring strain, which will probably keep him out of action for the next four to five weeks, Postecoglou confirmed on Wednesday during his pregame press conference.
Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
The Spurs manager is once again without his preferred center-back duo as Micky van de Ven is currently sidelined with his own hamstring problem.
Postecoglou is likely to start with a back four consisting of Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, and Destiny Udogie.
Earlier this month, Tottenham managed to draw 3-3 away to Manchester City with the support of this back line.
But there’s also a potential that one of Spurs’ summer acquisitions will finally make his debut.
Ashley Phillips is “everything” Tottenham needs to succeed.
Ashley Phillips, a defender with Blackburn Rovers, was acquired by Tottenham at the beginning of August for an alleged £3 million.
According to the Evening Standard, former Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray said of Phillips during his tenure at Ewood Park: “He’s 6ft 4in, he’s fast, mobile, and can pass it really well.”
“He’s calm and can use both feet. Ash is simply an amazing little child. This young man possesses all the qualities you would want in a defender, should you decide to construct one.
It was said that Postecoglou was prepared to give the 18-year-old his big break.
Sadly, an injury he sustained while serving abroad prevented Postecoglou from giving the 18-year-old his professional debut in November, despite reports that he was prepared to do so.
Phillips, though, recovered from injury ahead of schedule and started on the bench in the team’s most recent victory over Everton.
In light of this, Postecoglou might try to give the player his first Lilywhites competitive game when they travel to Brighton.
