Ange Postecoglou Faces Striker Dilemma Ahead of Everton Clash
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is grappling with a striking conundrum as his team prepares to take on Everton in the Premier League this Saturday. The Spurs boss revealed that the club’s record signing, Dominic Solanke, has been ruled out due to an ankle injury sustained on his debut.
Solanke, who joined Tottenham from Bournemouth for an initial £55 million earlier this month, played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Leicester City on Monday. However, the 25-year-old striker is now in a race against time to be fit for the club’s upcoming encounter against Newcastle United on September 1.
“It’s not serious enough to keep him out for five weeks,” Postecoglou said of Solanke’s injury. “He’s still a chance for the Newcastle game [on September 1]. It’s just about how quickly he recovers.”
With Solanke sidelined, Postecoglou must decide whether to deploy Dejan Kulusevski or Son Heung-min in the central striker role. The manager confirmed that Richarlison, who missed the entirety of pre-season, is fit to start but will not be able to play the full 90 minutes.
Postecoglou was full of praise for Cristian Romero, who is set to make his 100th appearance for Tottenham against Everton on Saturday. The Argentine defender has become a pivotal figure for the club since joining from Atalanta in 2021.
“He is an absolute winner in everything he does,” the Spurs manager said of Romero. “He has won the World Cup and the Copa America, so he’s part of a successful team and I think he’s a really strong influence in the group.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham will also be without Rodrigo Bentancur for the Everton clash as the Uruguayan recovers from the concussion he suffered against Leicester. However, Yves Bissouma is available for selection after the club imposed a one-match suspension on the midfielder following an incident involving laughing gas.
As the new Premier League season gathers pace, Postecoglou and his team will be looking to bounce back from their opening-day draw and secure a crucial victory against Everton. With the Euro 2024, Champions League, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar all on the horizon, the quest for success in the domestic and European competitions continues.
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