Tottenham injury crisis deepens as Dominic Solanke becomes 10th star OUT of Everton game
Tottenham’s injury crisis has been plunged to a new low with Dominic Solanke out of Sunday’s clash with Everton, talkSPORT understands. It means that Richarlison is likely to be drafted in to the starting XI in his place. Postecoglou will be without yet another key star for the trip to EvertonGetty Solanke has largely led the line on his own due to the club’s fitness issues but has now suffered a knee problem himself. The £65million summer signing will miss the visit to Goodison Park with concerns a lengthy spell on the sidelines awaits. Solanke also sat out the reverse meeting with Everton after picking up a knock on his Premier League debut for Tottenham. The England international sat out the 4-0 win over the Toffees in August as well as the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the club’s next match. However, since his return, Solanke has been near-ever present for Tottenham in the Premier League, scoring seven times. Aside from sitting out a 1-1 draw with Fulham in December due to illness, the 27-year-old has started every other top-flight match. Ange Postecoglou’s lack of cover in forward areas following Richarlison‘s injury woes have also meant Solanke hasn’t been afforded a rest. The latter has played the third-most amount of minutes in the Premier League for Tottenham this season, only behind Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski. Solanke has also racked up over 500 minutes across three cup competitions, with 11 goals in total since arriving from Bournemouth. He was even needed to cameo from the bench in the FA Cup third-round 3-0 extra-time win over National League Tamworth. Solanke has been a near-constant figure in the Premier League for Spurs Richarlison is likely to start against his former side having scored at Goodison last seasonGetty Only this week, Postecoglou all-but foreshadowed Solanke’s injury by sharing his fear that his No.9 was being overloaded. The Australian manager admitted he was in the process of targeting a new forward this month to relieve the burden on Solanke. Postecoglou said: “If we can get him some help, yeah [he will continue to fill the gap left by Harry Kane]. “Dom has just been outstanding in the way he’s carried the frontline for us during this period. “With the way we play, we put a lot of demands on that position. It’s not just him standing up there scoring goals, it’s working hard for the team. “I really think if Richy was available, I think [Dom] would have been able to contribute even greater for us in terms of his output in goals. Solanke has picked up a knee injuryGetty “I really love what he brings to us as a team from a football perspective, from a cultural perspective. “The only growth we’ve seen in recent times is him and Deki [Dejan Kulusevski] becoming on-field leaders in the team. “With Dom being a new player, it probably would have been easier for him to slip in and do his job but he’s taken on the responsibility of helping the whole team. He’s been great for us. “I really feel there is more to him and his game. We’ll be able to get more out of him if we can him some help.” Postecoglou will now be sweating on a prolonged absence for Solanke ahead of a crucial spell in Tottenham’s faltering season. The 2-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal in the north London derby confined Spurs to 15th in the table – already 14 points off the top four. Tottenham's walking wounded Ruled out Dominic Solanke – Knee injury Guglielmo Vicario – Foot Injury Cristian Romero – Thigh Injury Micky van de Ven – Thigh Injury Destiny Udogie – Thigh Injury Timo Werner – Hamstring Injury Rodrigo Bentancur – Head Injury Wilson Odobert – Thigh injury Injury doubt Brennan Johnson – Calf injury Yves Bissouma – Knock The Lilywhites haven’t won a Premier League match since beating bottom-of-the-table Southampton on December 15. That is their only victory in their past nine top-flight encounters, with Everton having the chance to move within four points of Tottenham with a game-in-hand. Solanke faces a race to be fit for the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg clash against Liverpool at Anfield. He provided the assist for Lucas Bergvall’s winner in the first meeting between the two, with Spurs holding a slender 1-0 advantage.
Tottenham’s injury crisis has been plunged to a new low with Dominic Solanke out of Sunday’s clash with Everton, talkSPORT understands.
It means that Richarlison is likely to be drafted in to the starting XI in his place.
Solanke has largely led the line on his own due to the club’s fitness issues but has now suffered a knee problem himself.
The £65million summer signing will miss the visit to Goodison Park with concerns a lengthy spell on the sidelines awaits.
Solanke also sat out the reverse meeting with Everton after picking up a knock on his Premier League debut for Tottenham.
The England international sat out the 4-0 win over the Toffees in August as well as the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the club’s next match.
However, since his return, Solanke has been near-ever present for Tottenham in the Premier League, scoring seven times.
Aside from sitting out a 1-1 draw with Fulham in December due to illness, the 27-year-old has started every other top-flight match.
Ange Postecoglou’s lack of cover in forward areas following Richarlison‘s injury woes have also meant Solanke hasn’t been afforded a rest.
The latter has played the third-most amount of minutes in the Premier League for Tottenham this season, only behind Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski.
Solanke has also racked up over 500 minutes across three cup competitions, with 11 goals in total since arriving from Bournemouth.
He was even needed to cameo from the bench in the FA Cup third-round 3-0 extra-time win over National League Tamworth.
Only this week, Postecoglou all-but foreshadowed Solanke’s injury by sharing his fear that his No.9 was being overloaded.
The Australian manager admitted he was in the process of targeting a new forward this month to relieve the burden on Solanke.
Postecoglou said: “If we can get him some help, yeah [he will continue to fill the gap left by Harry Kane].
“Dom has just been outstanding in the way he’s carried the frontline for us during this period.
“With the way we play, we put a lot of demands on that position. It’s not just him standing up there scoring goals, it’s working hard for the team.
“I really think if Richy was available, I think [Dom] would have been able to contribute even greater for us in terms of his output in goals.
“I really love what he brings to us as a team from a football perspective, from a cultural perspective.
“The only growth we’ve seen in recent times is him and Deki [Dejan Kulusevski] becoming on-field leaders in the team.
“With Dom being a new player, it probably would have been easier for him to slip in and do his job but he’s taken on the responsibility of helping the whole team. He’s been great for us.
“I really feel there is more to him and his game. We’ll be able to get more out of him if we can him some help.”
Postecoglou will now be sweating on a prolonged absence for Solanke ahead of a crucial spell in Tottenham’s faltering season.
The 2-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal in the north London derby confined Spurs to 15th in the table – already 14 points off the top four.
Tottenham's walking wounded
Ruled out
Dominic Solanke – Knee injury
Guglielmo Vicario – Foot Injury
Cristian Romero – Thigh Injury
Micky van de Ven – Thigh Injury
Destiny Udogie – Thigh Injury
Timo Werner – Hamstring Injury
Rodrigo Bentancur – Head Injury
Wilson Odobert – Thigh injury
Injury doubt
Brennan Johnson – Calf injury
Yves Bissouma – Knock
The Lilywhites haven’t won a Premier League match since beating bottom-of-the-table Southampton on December 15.
That is their only victory in their past nine top-flight encounters, with Everton having the chance to move within four points of Tottenham with a game-in-hand.
Solanke faces a race to be fit for the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
He provided the assist for Lucas Bergvall’s winner in the first meeting between the two, with Spurs holding a slender 1-0 advantage.
