Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has been dropped from the England squad and has given Ange Postecoglou even more worries about the future.
The 26-year-old was sent off in the first half of Spurs’ 4-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Monday due to an ankle injury. Spurs have now shown that they will not be available for England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers at home. Malta on 17 November and North Macedonia on 20 November.
Spurs said in a statement that the player would continue his rehabilitation at their Hotspur Way education centre under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, although there is no indication of how long he will be out.
Maddison was included in England manager Gareth Southgate’s 25-man starting squad on Thursday.
England sealed their qualification for next summer’s European Championship in Germany in their final qualifier, a 2-1 win over Italy at Wembley last month.
As for the effect his absence will have on Tottenham, there’s no denying that it would be huge.
Postecoglou is already facing a real crisis ahead of Saturday’s clash against Wolves at Molineux, and the Australian is sure to deal with it in his unflappable style.
Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie are suspended, while no genuine update on Micky van de Ven suggests the centre-back will also be absent.
Richarlison also underwent groin surgery and will be out for weeks as Tottenham prepare to send a makeshift line-up against Gary O’Neil’s men.
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Maddison’s injury may give Rodrigo Bentancur a chance to return to the starting XI in a No. 10 role; Postecoglou believes he has enough compatibility to get started after a long absence.
Eric Dier will start after making his first appearance of the season in the devastating defeat to Chelsea. However, who will pair him in central defence remains a burning question.
Ben Davies himself has struggled with injury issues and if he is not fit to leave, there is every chance that Postecoglou will opt to play midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg alongside Dier, but not with such a superior line this time around!
Emerson Royal will most likely upgrade the left-back of the banned Udogie, while Postecoglou will at least release his first 3 of Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.
The early start at Molineux, however tricky given the circumstances, also gives Tottenham the chance to get back to the more sensible position in the table.
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