Ange Postecoglou has revealed that both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison will miss the game against Newcastle on Sunday.
Solanke, recently signed from Bournemouth for £65m, played 90 minutes in Spurs’ Premier League opener against Leicester, before sustaining an injury in training.
“Dom Solanke is close,” Postecoglou reported. “I think we’ll err on the side of caution with the international break.”
Solanke’s backup Richarlison is also hurt, with Postecoglou stating that he “pulled up sore”.
He added: “I think there’s a muscle injury there and we’re getting some more information, but he is out.”
The Tottenham boss noted that Richarlison has struggled for minutes due to consistent injuries in the past, missing the entirety of Spurs’ pre-season tour and managing only brief cameos against Leicester and Everton this season.
“When he’s fit, he’s such a handful. Even last week that 20 minutes he played, you can see the options he gives us in that position. But like you said, it’s frustrating probably for him as much as anyone else but frustrating for us, too.”
Despite a pair of injuries in a position already struggling for depth, Postecoglou states that he does not expect Tottenham to do any business on deadline day, unless “something surprising jumps out.”
That may not come as a surprise given how Tottenham have invested their money this summer, looking to the future as they brought in young talents from across Europe and the UK.
Asked whether Spurs planned on bringing in such young players, he said: “It was definitely part of my plan.
“All managers hope they’re there for the long-term, but the reality is that you don’t know how long you’ll be there, but I’ve always tried to build teams that will last over a cycle which is, you know, three, four, five years.
“It’s just a natural consequence of that. You’re looking at a younger demographic, a team that will grow, that will improve, that will adapt to the challenges ahead.
“So, like I said, when I got here it was a team that, even from a demographic point of view, looked like it was at the end of a cycle. A lot of players who had had great careers but were either ready to move on or getting to the end of it. So that combination with a different approach for me, it was definitely part of it to go younger.”
