Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says the club is ‘working hard’ to try and make some signings this month to enable his injury-hit squad to compete.
Spurs face Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime and Postecoglou will be without some players due to illness.
He has already lost defenders Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and Cristian Romero, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and forwards Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore.
To add to the problems, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was suspended on Saturday and left-back Destiny Udogie has been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Postecoglou said: “It’s not a matter of pushing, but the club is working hard to try to get help for the playing group. The club is working hard on it.
“January is not an easy month, it is not an easy time to bring in people particularly quickly. At the same time, we want to do what’s best for us, not panic and bring in people who will suit us.
“Richarlison and Mikey [Moore] are the next two cabs out of range – hopefully next week at some point. Ben [Davies], [Micky] Van de Ven and [Cristian] Romero kind of at the same time, which is the last end of January.”
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Tottenham have won just three of their last 13 games and were beaten by Liverpool just before Christmas. They have an EFL Cup semi-final against the Reds next week, but the Australian didn’t put his finger on what is causing their injury problems.
He said: “I think it’s probably a combination of different things. The amount of games, the way we play.
“I guess the challenge for us is that a lot of our injuries have been re-injuries, which is something we’re looking at. I don’t think it’s unique to us. I think you see that everywhere with bats, but we’re hit kind of more extreme. [Guglielmo] Vicario, it’s not a muscle injury – his is long-term, but it makes the situation we’re in a bit worse.”
‘Tuchel will be impressed’
New England manager Thomas Tuchel will be in the stands for Saturday’s game, with striker Dominic Solanke set to impress.
The big-money signing from Bournemouth has scored 10 goals for Spurs this season and Postecoglou is confident the new boss will like what he sees.
“Home [Solanke] he was outstanding for us,” he said.
“He scored goals, but his all-round play and ability to help the team in all aspects of our football – defensively, set-up play, still a presence in the penalty area, really intelligent with his movements and really carrying that position at his back without help and rest .
“That says a lot about his character and what kind of person he is. I cannot speak highly enough of him. The burden he’s had to carry for us over the last two months without our huge help enabling him to recover, yet he’s putting in big performances every week – there’s no doubt Thomas Tuchel will be impressed with him.”
