Tottenham Hotspur’s injury woes have deepened, with manager Thomas Frank fearing midfielder Lucas Bergvall could face a lengthy layoff after sustaining an ankle injury in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old will miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Burnley, and club sources suggest he may be sidelined for several months.
Bergvall’s injury is the 19th Tottenham have suffered this season, the joint-highest tally in the Premier League alongside Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds. Spurs have lost players for the second-most days to injury at 625, slightly behind Newcastle’s 640, compounding a difficult campaign.
“It seems like we are cursed or something like that,” Frank said. “Injuries are a part of football. We keep being very unlucky, and it looks like Lucas could be a longer one.” The head coach is already missing eight first-team players, including Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison and Ben Davies, all of whom have picked up serious problems in recent matches.
In brighter news, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Xavi Simons emerged unscathed from the victory over Dortmund, while midfielder João Palhinha should be fit for the Burnley clash. The club also confirmed the £13m signing of Brazilian full-back Souza from Santos on Thursday.
Frank, who has faced pressure after recent results, dismissed any criticism of the medical department, noting that injuries are a league-wide issue. “In my third year at Brentford we had a horrendous year and it impacted the season. We always look at what we can do to avoid it,” he said. “Overall I’m very happy with medical and performance departments.”
Meanwhile, Frank has urged the club to prioritise a new contract for defender Micky van de Ven, who is under contract until 2029 but attracting interest from Liverpool. “Micky is a key player for this team and this club, hopefully for many years to come,” Frank said.
