Van de Ven on return from injury: "I'm really happy to be back"

Micky van de Ven says he is ready to help boost our defensive ranks after returning to the matchday squad for our FA Cup third round win over Burnley on Friday night (5 January).

The centre-back was named amongst the substitutes for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury against Chelsea at the start of November and received a rousing reception from our fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his name rang out whilst he warmed up on the touchline.

Ange Postecoglou on Thursday revealed Micky was back in full training and hinted at his involvement against the Clarets but cautioned he won't be rushed back to action, remaining an unused substitute as Pedro Porro's screamer in the 78th minute saw us progress to the fourth round.

Signed from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer transfer window, the 22-year-old made such a promising start in his first 12 games in a Spurs shirt and opened his account for the Club with a crucial match-winning goal in our narrow victory at Luton Town on 7 October 2023.

Watch - Micky scores his first Spurs goal against Luton

Composed on the ball and rapid off it, the Dutchman quickly formed a brilliant understanding with Cristian Romero at the heart of our defence and his early season form earned him his first senior call up for the Netherlands in September, later making his senior debut against France a month later and has two caps to date.

Micky's return may prove timely with fellow defender Ben Davies, who has stepped in superbly in the left-sided centre-back role for the past few months, picking up an injury in the latter stages of our cup tie on Friday night and 'Cuti' also sidelined for a month from Everton on 23 December 2023.

Watch - Romero and van de Ven's partnership in 2023/24

With a Premier League away trip to Manchester United up next for Ange's side, his availability is a major boost to ease some selection fears in central defence before the squad take a mid-season break the following week.

"I’m really happy to be back," said our number 37.

"It's always a good feeling to be back with the squad and be on the bench. Next week a big game is coming so hopefully I'll get some minutes over there.

"I'm feeling fit, I have no pain anymore, so I think I'm ready. It's long, it was like 10 weeks I've been out, it's frustrating when you have to watch from the sidelines.

"It's a really good time for the players to come back, it's an important second half of the season ahead so hopefully everybody will stay fit, and we'll see what will happen."